The snow finally halted after an entire day of heavy accumulation. We can call the Washington, DC “Blizzard of 2009” officially over. Now it’s time to dig out the sidewalk. Then we can get the kids over to the sledding hill, and venture through a snowbound neighborhood before the onset of cabin fever. It looks like we’ll have one of those incredibly rare events in the Mid-Atlantic, a White Christmas. Of course that assumes it doesn’t all melt away over the next few days.
The Haul
We topped out right at about sixteen inches (41 centimeters). That seemed to be the same as the “official” measurement at the airport about four miles away. Some drifts reached much higher, kicked in by the ferocious winds yesterday afternoon. But sixteen looks like a good average. I took a number of unscientific measurements at various points around the yard.
Several of the regular readers of the Twelve Mile Circle live in northern climates. I know they’re all scoffing at this image. For the Washington, DC area, however, this is an amazing total that happens about once every decade or so, and it has never happened in December. Many of the school systems already threw in the towel and decided they can’t possibly clear the streets in time for class on Monday. Sixteen inches is a decent amount even for readers in the Great Plains or Canada, isn’t it? Come on. Be honest. 😉
When Will They Learn?
There’s always someone who thinks that just because he (and it’s always a “he”) owns a Four-Wheel Drive SUV that he’s invincible. I found this one abandoned in front of my house this morning. The driver attempted to exit from a partially cleared Snow Emergency Route onto a lightly traveled side street. It’s tough to make much progress when the snowdrifts reach higher than the floorboards. The license plate said Georgia. He probably had no idea what would happen and personal experience can be a cruel teacher.
The plows on the larger road piled a good three feet of solidly packed snow behind him. I was just about to write that he’ll be stuck there for a few days. However, I looked out the window and noticed the police showed up with a tow truck. They pulled the vehicle to a safer place so it looks like he’s lucky today.
Venturing Outdoors
It’s a beautiful sunny morning and it’s time to head out with the kids. This is the sled hill at the local Middle School about a half mile away. It’s not the largest hill around but it’s perfect for an eight year old and a four year old to feel like they’re sledding down a ski jump. The walk down here also allowed me to observe that nearly every other street in the county seems to have been plowed except ours. They forgot us again. Darn. I’ve lived this story before and I know what it means for me.
We weren’t going to let ourselves get trapped for three days like the last time they forgot us in the big snow of 2003. Six of us who live along the street all got together this afternoon and dug it out by hand before the snow had a chance to turn to ice. It took us about an hour and a half and I think we did a pretty good job. Now we’re free!
What a wonderful winter day.
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