weather

Photo by PoPville flickr user available_photons

From the Mayor’s office:

“Mayor Vincent C. Gray, City Administrator Allen Y. Lew and District officials will join the District Snow Team as it prepares for the upcoming snow season by participating in a dry run. Crews from the Department of Public Works (DPW) and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will stage in Lot 8 behind RFK Stadium prior to being deployed across the District. More than 250 pieces of heavy equipment will be used during this exercise.

Friday, October 24, 2014 – 9:00 a.m.

This annual exercise is conducted to re-familiarize the District Snow Team with their routes and equipment. Nearly 700 plow drivers will navigate their routes (leaving from RFK Stadium) while administrative, supervisory and logistical support team members also practice their functions at other sites, such as salt domes. This annual test helps ensure that District personnel are ready to keep the city moving during real-life precipitation this winter.”

Your predictions are in – now for the professionals from AccuWeather:

“After record-shattering temperatures and high snow totals last winter in the Northeast, a similar theme will continue into the 2014-2015 season.

Cold air will surge into the Northeast in late November, but the brunt of the season will hold off until January and February. The polar vortex, the culprit responsible for several days of below-zero temperatures last year, will slip down into the region from time to time, delivering blasts of arctic air.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user philliefan99

From DC Alerts:

“The National Weather Service (NWS) reports a strong cold front will impact the region Wednesday into early Thursday. The potential exists for heavy rainfall and flooding in and around the District. NWS expects a few strong thunderstorms capable of producing damaging wind gusts of up to 50 to 60 MPH will be possible starting late morning Wednesday continuing through rush hour with the heaviest of the rainfall tapering off Wednesday night. Expect light rain to continue through Thursday.

Minor coastal flooding is likely along the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay and tidal Potomac River Wednesday into Thursday. Moderate coastal flooding is also possible at sensitive sites Wednesday and Wednesday night.

Please clear all catch basins and drains to prevent flooding”

By now you’ve probably seen or heard of the ridiculous Empire News hoax prediction of a brutal winter. Even before that went viral I started hearing from folks that there is a legend saying acorns falling this early means a brutal winter is coming. I’d never heard that one before but a few other folks I spoke to said they’d heard of it. Anyone else ever hear that one before? So just for fun – what do you think this winter holds in store for us? Are you rooting for mild or snowy? Hard to believe it’s been 5 years since Snowmageddon.

Photo by PoPville flickr user wolfpackWX

Photo by PoPville flickr user kenudigit

Photo by PoPville flickr user clif_burns

Photo by PoPville flickr user ekelly80

From DPR:

“All District Spray Parks, along with Upshur, Francis and Oxon Run pools were scheduled to close this week, however due to this weeks expected record high temperatures, the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) announced today that these selected aquatic facilities will remain open through the week.

All Spray Parks will remain open until Sunday, September 7; operating daily from 10 am to 7 pm.

Upshur pool (4300 Arkansas Avenue, NW) will remain open until Friday, September 5; operating daily from 3 pm to 8 pm.

Francis pool (25th & N Street, NW) will remain open until Friday, September 5; operating daily from 3 pm to 8 pm. (Francis will be open on Tuesday.)

Oxon Run pool (501 Mississippi Avenue, SE) will remain open through Friday, operating daily from 3 pm to 8 pm; as well as Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon to 6 pm. Oxon Run will close for the season at 6 pm on Sunday, September 7.

East Potomac pool (972 Ohio Drive, SW) will continue to operate on their normal schedule.

Doggie Day Swim, will take place as scheduled on Saturday, September 6 from 12 noon to 4 pm at Randall, Francis and Upshur pools.

According to the National Weather Service, the District of Columbia is expected to experience extremely high temperatures and humidity this week. Residents are encouraged to stay inside if possible.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user wolfpackWX

And thanks to @CweeksTweets for tweeting us the shot below: