Mid-Atlantic Braces For More Of 'Snowmageddon'

Feb. 9, 2010 | National Public Radio

The second major snowstorm in less than a week was bearing down toward the region, where plows still hadn't touched some roads, utility workers were struggling to restore power and shovels were in short supply. The storm could dump more than a foot of snow on top of the nearly three feet already on the ground in many areas.

The snow-socked mid-Atlantic states were moving plows to the front lines Tuesday, ahead of another potential record-breaking storm that could dump more than a foot of snow on top of the nearly three feet already on the ground in many areas.

Snow was expected to start falling Tuesday afternoon and continue through Wednesday. A wide swath of the Northeast that includes Philadelphia, New York, Boston and Washington, D.C., could see 11 to 19 inches. For the nation's capital and Philadelphia, that means this year's snowfall would surpass anything recorded for a single winter since 1884, the first year records were kept.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning from southern Minnesota across the Midwest, but the largest accumulations were expected on the eastern seaboard. The storm hit the Midwest early and caused slick roads from Minneapolis and Chicago to Louisville, Ky.

With hundreds of thousands of residents in the East still digging out from this weekend's massive storm and tens of thousands still without electricity, many people were losing patience as they girded for the next round of what has been dubbed "Snowmageddon" or "Snowpocalypse."

"Getting around is a pain right now as it is, so slushy and sloppy," said Meghan Garaghan, 28, as she stocked up at a supermarket in Philadelphia, which got 27 inches of snow. "I don't want to think about what it's going to be like with another foot and a half of snow dumped on top of this mess."

The storm that began Friday closed businesses and schools, and shut down the government for two days running. Some 230,000 federal workers in Washington were told not to report to work Monday and Tuesday; the Senate met for only a few minutes Monday, and the House called off floor votes Tuesday.

Utility companies said the deep snow was hindering some crews trying to fix damaged power lines before the next storm hits.

"If that heavy, wet snow piles on, we're going to see more trees coming down, branches coming down," said Pepco spokesman Robert Dobkin.

Planes and trains out of the nation's capital were still difficult to come by, while those traveling in automobiles found many roads still chocked with snow and ice. Although Washington's two main airports — Dulles International and Reagan National — were open, there were long-lines at ticket counters as airlines tried to cope with the huge backlog of people whose flights were scuttled over the weekend. The airports warned of more cancellations Tuesday.

The Metrorail subway system in D.C. was running, but officials warned that the system could close early Tuesday in anticipation of the latest storm. In Baltimore, the city's subway was running regular service again and there was limited service on some bus routes. Commuter trains between New York and New Jersey were also running limited service.

Safeway spokesman Greg Ten Eyck said road conditions were making it hard for many stores to restock groceries following the "epic" crowds before last week's storm.

Snow shovels, road salt, propane and other emergency items were still flying off the shelves at hardware stores across the region.

"I have to say, it's almost impossible to keep up with this," said Gordon Clement, owner of Clement Hardware in Severna Park, MD.

Clement said he had an inventory of 1,000 snow shovels on hand since 2006 that have all been snapped up since the weekend storm. Propane and kerosene heaters, fuel, wood logs and generators were also going faster than he could restock, he said.

"We're expecting a truck about noon," Clement said. "I expect people will be waiting in the parking lot for it to arrive."