VDOT completely shut down I-66 around 11:30 PM. As of right now it remains shut down and snow-covered.
I-395 also appears completely snow-covered. Of the VDOT cameras still in operation along I-395, no cars can be seen at this time.
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snowmageddon
According to NBC4‘s Bob Ryan, we may experience some of the heaviest snowfall rates the Washington area has seen in generations tonight. Also in the mix: the rare and wonderfully contradictory thundersnow. Arlington Now will be back tomorrow with continuous Snowmageddon updates, including scanner reports and snow photos. Stay warm, everybody.
Update at 8:10 PM – The Pentagon City Harris Teeter is closing within the hour. The Ballston store is planning to close at midnight. Both stores say it is unlikely they’ll open tomorrow.
Local Giant stores are, apparently, toughing out the storm. The South Glebe Road and the Virginia Square stores are both planning on closing at midnight and re-opening at 6:00 AM.
The Clarendon Whole Foods is closing at 5:00 PM today due to the snow. The store will remain closed until Sunday.
The Ballston Harris Teeter will be closing at some point tonight, depending on conditions, according to a store employee. Other stores, reached by phone, said no decision has been made regarding whether they’ll close today.
Okay, so we might be getting pretty worked up about Snowmageddon over here at arlnow.com. But it’s probably best not to sound gleeful — this is a dangerous storm, as the National Weather Service told WaPo’s Capital Weather Gang.
Truly, though, if someone is too excited about the snow it’s this guy.
The snow is sticking in Crystal City. Visibility is deteriorating as the snow picks up in intensity.
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Update at 12:00 AM – Both the Ballston and the Pentagon City Harris Teeter stores are running very low on many essentials. Much of what is left is the more specialty-type items. As of 11:30 PM, the Pentagon City Harris Teeter still had very long lines.
Parking spaces were scarce outside the Shopper’s Food Warehouse at Potomac Yard tonight. At the Harris Teeter in Pentagon City, register lines stretched nearly the length of the store’s isles. Meanwhile on South Fern Street, drivers waiting to get into the Costco parking lot resorted to honking out of frustration with the massive backup.
With forecasters talking up the possibility that this storm will surpass December’s whopper snowfall, locals dutifully headed out en masse to stock up on the essentials. The usual staples — milk, bread, toilet paper — could be found in most carts.
As of 7:30 tonight, the Potomac Yard Shopper’s suffered at least one kind of shortage: shopping carts and baskets. Many shoppers resorted to carrying their groceries by hand — no easy task while waiting in 45 minute checkout lines.
Despite the rancor that prevailed in the traffic jams outside, politeness won the day inside. Lines moved along in an orderly fashion and, at least so far, there was no need to fight for the last roll of Charmin.
This is starting to sound very familiar: a major snowstorm is heading our way, just in time for the weekend. The storm is looking increasingly likely to be on par with the impact of the Dec. 19 “Snowpocalypse.” Most forecasters are predicting a minimum of 10 inches, with up to two feet possible. The fact that the snow is supposed to start around midday Friday should help facilitate an early start to the weekend for many.
Meanwhile, the state and the county have gone into full-blown end-of-the-world mode. Yesterday Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell declared what is likely his first state of emergency (mazel tov!), a full two days ahead of the storm. Arlington County, not to be outdone, is warning of “near blizzard conditions” and asking residents to be prepared to shelter in place for 3 to 5 days. From the Arlington Alerts:
Please stay off the roads. Snow crews will plow primary and secondary roads first for emergency vehicles. After severe storms (more than 10”), it may take 36-48 hours after the snow stops before County plows can get to residential streets. Removal and treatment may take several days.
Stay tuned for more snow updates later today.