Blizzard paralyzes US, mid-Atlantic
US: A blizzard dumped two feet (half a meter) of snow across much of
the U.S. mid-Atlantic on Saturday, paralyzing travel, leaving tens of
thousands without power and creating a winter wonderland in a region not
used to big snows.
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Snowstorm |
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Storm dumps two feet of snow in Washington
* Airports closed, roads empty,
230,000 without power
* Obama motorcade in
“Snowmageddon” fender bender |
Snowfall totals of 20 to 38 inches (51 to 99 cm) blanketed a crescent
from West Virginia to southern New Jersey by early evening when the
flakes stopped falling after more than 24 hours.
More than 230,000 homes lost power in the Washington area, according
to The Washington Post, after the snow felled trees, brought down
powerlines and damaged utility poles. Pepco electric company said its
workers were scrambling to restore power, but said it could be a few
days before everyone was back up.
Traffic was at a virtual standstill in the nation’s capital and
surrounding areas as the sun set on many deserted, unplowed streets. Up
to 32 inches (81 cm) of snow had fallen in suburban Washington in the
biggest snowfall to hit the city in decades.
“ certainly as much snow as many of us have seen in our lifetime in
one particular storm,” Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty told local
television.
With hundreds of trucks plowing the streets of the city, Fenty said
he has one goal: “To have the city ready and open for business Monday
morning.”
The Dupont Circle neighborhood took on a carnival-like atmosphere as
hundreds of young adults filled the traffic circle for some snowball
warfare.
Local media reported two Washingtonians used social networking
websites to organize the snowball fight.
The National Weather Service declared a 24-hour blizzard warning for
the Washington-Baltimore region until yesterday. Winds were strong,
especially along the mid-Atlantic coast, with gusts recorded up to 40
mph (64 kph).
Washington, Sunday, Reuters |
