The Blizzard at Night: Photos and Video
A group of people were sledding down 14th St. N. in Courthouse tonight, just like they were doing over the weekend.
In Pentagon City, however, most of the people out and about were there strictly out of necessity.
There were a few people walking their dogs. Police and fire department SUV’s passed by. But by and large, most of the people braving the 40 mile per hour wind gusts were plowing, shoveling or hauling snow.
Here are some photos and a video taken tonight.
Where the Snow-Filled Dump Trucks Go
A number of people have been wondering: where do those dump trucks — the ones filled with snow scooped up off Wilson Blvd., Clarendon Blvd., Crystal Dr., and other main roads — go after they’ve been filled up? And what happens to all that snow? Now we have an answer.
It turns out the trucks (which have been operating since Friday night) actually are dumping the snow in several parks, parking lots and other county-owned locations, including:
- A site on S. Clark St (just off of Old Jefferson Davis Highway)
- The future Long Bridge Park (also off of Old Jefferson Davis Highway)
- The Virginia Highlands park parking lot (off of S. Hayes St., near Pentagon City mall)
- Barcroft #6 parking lot (off of 4 Mile Run Dr. near George Mason Drive)
Over the next few weeks, the Department of Environmental Services will try to clear the huge snow piles using a mechanical snow melter, according to spokesperson Myllisa Kennedy. The department is also hoping that mother nature will pitch in with some sunshine and warmer weather.
Arlington Schools Closed Rest of the Week
Update at 7:25 PM – The federal government is closed Thursday.
Update at 6:45 PM – Arlington County government offices, courts, libraries, and recreation facilities will also be closed Thursday. No word on Friday, yet.
Arlington County schools will be closed for the rest of the week. Students will resume classes on Tuesday, the school system announced this afternoon.
Part of today’s email to parents from superintendent Patrick K. Murphy, after the jump.
Blizzard by the Numbers
Here’s an update on the blizzard statistics we’ve compiled today.
- 11+ inches of fresh snow on the ground in South Arlington
- 41 mile per hour wind gusts recorded at Reagan National Airport
- 1,253 Dominion customers in Northern Virginia without power (at 5:20 PM)
Emergency calls in Arlington, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM:
- 10 calls for downed trees, downed power lines, transformer fires, etc.
- 5 calls for stuck vehicles, including a fire engine
- 2 calls for women in labor
What’s Open in Clarendon Tonight
Getting cabin fever? Want to get out of the house/apartment and go eat and/or drink your snow sorrows away? Here’s a list of some places that are open in the Clarendon area tonight.
- Ireland’s Four Courts
- Whitlow’s on Wilson
- Hard Times Cafe
- Liberty Tavern
- Boulevard Wood Grill
- Kitty O’Shea’s
- Piola (which is in Rosslyn, but we’re including it in this list anyhow)
Note: we didn’t include several businesses that said they were currently open but closing early. Unfortunately (if you had hot chocolate in mind) that includes the Clarendon Starbucks, which is closing at 5:00 PM.
Former Rep. Charlie Wilson Dies
Former Rep. Charlie Wilson (D-TX) has died at the age of 76. During his days in congress Wilson, a former naval officer, lived in an apartment in Rosslyn overlooking the Iwo Jima memorial, the Washington Monument, and the U.S. Capitol.
In the movie Charlie Wilson’s War, the Wilson character played by Tom Hanks called it “the best view in Washington.” The late Charlie Wilson was indeed said to be fond of the the view from his balcony, especially the view of the Iwo Jima memorial.
Arlington Snow Crews Kept on Trucking During Blizzard
Although Alexandria, the District and Montgomery County, Md. stopped plowing during the height of today’s blizzard, Arlington crews kept trucking. County snow removal crews were slowed down due to high winds and low visibility, but they did not stop their effort to keep main roadways passable, according to Department of Environmental Services spokesperson Myllisa Kennedy.
Due to the fact that it will take several days to clear neighborhood roads, the county has decided to suspend trash collection service for the rest of the week. Trash collection will resume Monday.
Video of the Blizzard in Pentagon City
Taken today around noon, from the top floor of a Pentagon City apartment building:
Summary of Today’s Closures
Here’s a summary of some of today’s closures:
- County government, schools libraries and courts are closed
- Pentagon City mall is closed (Ballston Common Mall is open)
- The Arlington YMCA is closed
- No flights are leaving from or arriving at Reagan National Airport
- The Clarendon Whole Foods has closed (other grocery stores we talked to are still open)
- Arlington Free Clinic is closed
- Marymount University closed
- The Art Institute of Washington, Arlington campus, is closed
- Metrorail aboveground service, Metrobus service, and ART service is suspended
NWS Warns: Do Not Attempt to Drive
“Attempt” is a good way to put it. Here’s the Special Weather Statement…
Issued by The National Weather Service
Baltimore/Washington, MD
8:24 am EST, Wed., Feb. 10, 2010… EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS MORNING FOR THE BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON REGION… THE EASTERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA…
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THIS MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON. LIFE THREATENING BLIZZARD CONDITIONS HAVE DEVELOPED RAPIDLY ACROSS THE BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON REGION THIS MORNING.
AT 7:27 AM THIS MORNING… A WIND GUST WAS RECORDED TO 60 MPH AT MANASSAS VIRGINIA. NUMEROUS WIND GUSTS OVER 40 MPH HAVE OBSERVED AROUND THE REGION ALONG WITH WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS.
IF YOU GET STRANDED IN YOUR VEHICLE… DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CAR TO TRY TO WALK FOR ASSISTANCE… YOU CAN QUICKLY BECOME DISORIENTED IN WIND DRIVEN SNOW AND COLD. THIS STORM WILL SUBSIDE EARLY THIS EVENING… SO WAIT IN YOUR CAR FOR EMERGENCY HELP TO ARRIVE. PERIODICALLY RUN YOUR ENGINE FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES EACH HOUR FOR HEAT. ENSURE YOUR EXHAUST PIPE IS CLEARED OF SNOW AND ICE. CRACK YOUR WINDOWS TO AVOID CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. TIE A COLORED CLOTH TO YOUR CARS ANTENNA TO BE VISIBLE TO RESCUERS. FROM TIME- TO-TIME… MOVE YOUR ARMS… LEGS… FINGERS… AND TOES TO KEEP BLOOD CIRCULATING.
What Not to Call Police For in a Blizzard
A police officer is responding to someone complaining of “loud noise and furniture movement” in an Arlington apartment building.
White Out
