WASHINGTON — Worst winter ever? The second blizzard in less than a week buried the most populous stretch of the East Coast under nearly a foot of snow Wednesday, breaking records for the snowiest winter and demoralizing millions of people still trying to dig out from the previous storm.
Conditions in the nation’s capital were so bad that even plows were advised to get off the roads, and forecasters were eyeing a third storm that could be brewing for next week.
For many, the first storm was a fun weekend diversion. People even skied past Washington’s monuments. But Wednesday’s blizzard became a safety concern. Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell shut down some highways and warned that people who drove were risking their lives.
“I’ve seen enough,” said Bill Daly, 57, as wind and snow lashed his face in Arlington, Va.
Old-timers talk about a storm that hit Washington in 1922, collapsing the roof of the Knickerbocker theater and killing more than 90 people. Their great- great-grandchildren will be able to describe the back-to-back blizzards of 2010, which were not nearly as deadly but set records for the snowiest winter ever in Washington and Baltimore.
Up to 16 inches fell in parts of western Maryland. Reagan National Airport, outside Washington, had nearly 10 inches by 2 p.m., and Baltimore got nearly a foot. That was on top of totals up to 3 feet in some places from the weekend storm.
“I have never in my lifetime seen or heard anything quite like this,” said D.C. Fire Chief Dennis Rubin, who was born and raised in the District.
The previous records for snowiest winters were 62.5 inches in Baltimore in 1995-96 and 54.4 inches in Washington in 1898-99. As of Wednesday afternoon, Baltimore had 72.3 inches so far this winter and Rea gan National Airport had 54.9.
Heavy snow also fell in New York and New Jersey. Airlines canceled hundreds of flights, and New York City’s 1.1 million schoolchildren enjoyed only their third snow day in six years. The Washington area’s two airports had no flights coming or going Wednesday.
The news wasn’t all bad. Washington has not had a hom icide in a week, and ski areas were doing brisk business, when people could get to them. But many people were just ready for the ordeal to end.
In a yard in Westmont, N.J., someone used bright orange paint to scrawl a message on a white backdrop: “Dear Mr Frost: We’re good w/ snow.”
Inside.
