Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

(UPDATED WEATHER MAP AS OF 1:30 PM 12/18)

Courtesy of Weather.com, here are the projections for snowfall.
Chantilly/Fairfax, VA can expect 12-24 inches Friday evening through Sunday

I should have known something was afoot when, while shopping at Giant to avoid the crazy people today, I heard "Let It Snow" on the stores loudspeaker. Not since the likes of the Blizzards of 1993, 1996 or 2006 have we seen snow totals of 1-2 feet predicted. As the bullseye keeps growing, let's take a walk down memory lane and see what those snowstorms impact had on our area:

• 1993: The "Storm of the Century," also known as the ’93 Superstorm, No-Name Hurricane, the White Hurricane, or the "Great Blizzard of 1993," was a large cyclonic storm that occurred on March 12–March 13, 1993, on the East Coast of North America. It is unique for its intensity, massive size and wide-reaching effect. The D.C. area saw 2-3 feet of snow from this classic storm that crippled the area for 2-3 weeks as plows and residents tried to dig out. (I remember missing over a week of school because of this storm!)
  
  


• 1996: The "Blizzard of 1996" was a nor'easter (much like the one that will hit this weekend) that paralyzed the U.S. East Coast with up to 4 feet of wind-driven snow over a three-day period from January 6 to January 8, 1996.
  
  
  Also known as the MLK Storm, Snow began falling in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore during the late evening of January 6 and continued at a consistent rate until mid-afternoon the next day. At that time, the metro area received 13 to 17 inches, and after a few hours of sleet and then a complete stop for several hours, it seemed the worst was over. But overnight, as the storm slowly crawled northward, extremely heavy bands of snow came in from the east. These bands created whiteout conditions as winds gusted past 40 miles per hour, along with thunder and lightning.
  
  
  By the morning of January 8, the bands tapered off, and the metro area was left with a blanket of 15 to 25 inches of snow. Baltimore received 22.5 inches and Washington Dulles International Airport received 24.6 inches. Many areas north and west in Maryland and West Virginia received well over 2 feet with a few locations in the mountains of West Virginia and Virginia receiving up to 4 feet.
  
  
• 2006: The "Blizzard of 2006" was a nor'easter that began on the evening of February 11, 2006. It dumped heavy snow across the Northeast United States from Virginia to Maine through the early evening of February 12 and ended in Atlantic Canada on February 13. The major northeast cities from Baltimore to Boston received at least a foot of snow, with an all-time largest amount of 26.9 inches in New York City, the most since at least 1869, the start of record keeping.
  
  
  According to Dominion Power, over 64,000 people in Northern Virginia lost power in the storm, primarily in the suburban areas adjacent to Washington, D.C. Many locations in the extreme Northeastern portion of the state recorded 10-15 inches of snow, with Falls Church and Fairfax coming in at 13.5 inches and 14.0 inches respectively. Fairfax County and eastern Loudoun County were generally the start of the 12+ inches accumulations, which spread north towards Massachusetts.

Will we be adding 2009 to the list? I am sure with the predictions of 12-24 inches of snow. Be prepared if you live from North Carolina up to Pennsylvania.

Here are a few tips to keep you safe during this storm:

1) Listen to your radio, television, or NOAA Weather Radio for weather reports and emergency information.

2) Eat regularly and drink ample fluids, but avoid caffeine and alcohol.

3) Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow. Overexertion can bring on a heart attack—a major cause of death in the winter. If you must shovel snow, stretch before going outside.

4) Cover your mouth. Protect your lungs from extremely cold air by covering your mouth when outdoors. Try not to speak unless absolutely necessary.

5) Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat. Wet clothing loses all of its insulating value and transmits heat rapidly.

6) Watch for signs of frostbite. These include loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in extremities such as fingers, toes, ear lobes, and the tip of the nose. If symptoms are detected, get medical help immediately.

7) Watch for signs of hypothermia. These include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness, and apparent exhaustion.

8) Drive only if it is absolutely necessary. If you must drive, consider the following:
Travel in the day, don’t travel alone and keep others informed of your schedule.
Stay on main roads; avoid back road shortcuts.

SNOW UPDATE AS OF SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20: 26 inches fell in Chantilly, Va.!!!! Roads are terrible with schools closing for the rest of the week and most of DC offices closed Monday.