When you start to see words like “monster,” “crippling,” and “life or death” in your local weather forecast, you might need a little pick-me-up.

Well, the National Zoo is happy to oblige. It released photos of baby panda Bei Bei and his older sister Bao Bao in the snow yesterday. While Bao Bao is no stranger to winter wonderlands, and she seems more intent on her bamboo, it was Bei Bei’s first time experiencing the stuff.

According to the zoo, “Keepers took him outside to a small behind-the-scenes area and let him explore in a light dusting of snow for a few minutes while Mei Xiang ate her breakfast in her outdoor yard. Keepers said he wasn’t quite sure what to make of the powdery snow.” He’s about to have a much larger sample size to work with.

Bao Bao seemed more filled with joy during her first snow day last year.

The National Zoo will close at noon today. But before then, a humble request: some of us would like to know how little porcupette Charlotte is finding the snow.