weather

Photo by PoPville flickr user number7cloud

As Chief Lanier reminded us last time it got frigid:

“Please be on the look out for the elderly, others that may not have heat, those that do not have a roof over their heads, and our pets. If you know a neighbor without heat or if you run across a homeless person and they need assistance please call our hypothermia hotline at (202) 399-7093 or 1 (800) 535-7252 to get them the needed aid. Also, please don’t forget to bring all of your pets indoors.”

Also anyone from cold climes have advice on preventing pipes from freezing?

And in lighter news:

“Vortex Vodka! In honor of the tomorrow’s polar vortex, Russian eatery Mari Vanna [1141 Connecticut Avenue, NW] will be offerings all patrons one complimentary shot of vodka tomorrow [Tuesday Jan. 7th] anytime before 7pm. Tomorrow’s DC weather is expected to be the coldest we’ve seen in 20 years. Diners can warm up with an array of house-infused vodka flavors, from seaberry to horseradish and pineapple to cucumber dill.”

Photo by PoPville reader PB

As always thanks to all who emailed, tweeted, and uploaded photos to the PoPville flickr pool.

Photo by PoPville flickr user philliefan99

Photo by PoPville flickr user nevermindtheend

More shots after the jump. (more…)

Photo by @gchowdhry

From @USOPM:

“For 01/03/14, federal agencies in the Washington, DC area have the option for unscheduled leave/telework.”

From @mayorvincegray:

“District Government will be OPEN tomorrow with the option of unscheduled leave for eligible staff.”

From MPD Chief Cathy Lanier:

“Neighbors, the National Weather Service is calling for some of the coldest temperatures that we have seen in Washington D.C. for quite some time. With that being said, I am going to ask for your help in looking after some of our less fortunate residents. Please be on the look out for the elderly, others that may not have heat, those that do not have a roof over their heads, and our pets. If you know a neighbor without heat or if you run across a homeless person and they need assistance please call our hypothermia hotline at (202) 399-7093 or 1 (800) 535-7252 to get them the needed aid. Also, please don’t forget to bring all of your pets indoors. As a team we can remain vigilant and ensure that the less fortunate can endure the coming cold weather. Thank you for your assistance.”

From DPW:

“The DC Snow Team (Department of Public Works and Department of Transportation) will deploy more than 200 plows Thursday, January 2, at 5 pm to be on site in advance of this year’s first snow event. The team will apply salt to major roadways as well as residential streets simultaneously. The event will start as rain this afternoon then mix with snow around 5-7 pm. Precipitation will change to all snow after 8 pm. The daytime temperature in the 40sF will drop to 32F around 9PM tonight. Forecasters predict 1-2 inches of snow through 3-4 am Friday and the air temperature will remain below freezing throughout the day.

“The extremely low temperatures and high winds are our primary challenges to clearing snow from the streets keeping them clear of blowing snow,” said DPW Director William O. Howland, Jr. “Fortunately, this is a fast-moving system that won’t produce a heavy accumulation.”

DPW leaf collection crews are the backbone of the Snow Team and the collections schedule has been disrupted in November and December by the multiple deployments to fight snow and ice storms. This schedule delay also affects holiday tree and greenery collections, which began December 30. As a result of today’s deployment, leaf/holiday tree collections will be suspended until the roadways are passable. Residents whose trash and recyclables are collected by DPW may put their holiday trees and other greenery where their trash/recyclables are collected.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user philliefan99

From OPM:

“FEDERAL OFFICES in the Washington, DC, area are CLOSED. Emergency and telework-ready employees required to work must follow their agency’s policies, including written telework agreements.”

From EOM:

“The District of Columbia Government will be closed on Tuesday, December 10, 2013, due to inclement weather in the DC Metro area. Due to the anticipated inclement weather predicted to hit the DC area this morning, DCPS Schools and administrative offices are closed today, Tuesday, December 10. Students and teachers do not need to report to school. All after school programs, athletic events and evening programs are cancelled as well. Central staff should not report. Today’s forecast calls for Snow, mainly before 3pm. High near 32. North wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.”

As always if you guys get any good snow photos please send an email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail or tweet me @PoPville or upload to the PoPville flickr pool.  Stay safe and have fun!

Photo by PoPville flickr user mixedeyes

From OPM:

“Federal agencies in the Washington, DC, area are OPEN under 2 hours DELAYED ARRIVAL and employees have the OPTION FOR UNSCHEDULED LEAVE OR UNSCHEDULED TELEWORK. Employees should plan to arrive for work no more than 2 hours later than they would be expected to arrive.”

From @DCGovWeb:

“District gov’t and DCPS schools will open on a 2-hour delay on Monday, Dec 9, due to inclement weather in the metro area. @dcpublicschools”

From @DCPoliceDept just after 5am Monday morning:

“4D Traffic Lights Out- Ga Av & Irving St NW/ 4- way stop sign in place/ use caution/ expect delays”

“4D Tree Down- 16th & Geranium St NW // take alternate route/”

Snow’s finally starting to stick a bit! This is from Petworth. If you guys get any good snow shots please send me an email at princeofpetworth(at)gmail or tweet to @PoPville or upload to the PoPville flickr pool. Have fun!

A reader sends from Fort Slocum in Manor Park:

Photo by PoPville flickr user ep_jhu

From DPW:

“The DC Snow Team (Department of Public Works and Department of Transportation) will deploy more than 200 plows to commercial and residential streets Sunday morning, December 8 to be on site in advance of the upcoming wintry mix of freezing rain and snow. Meteorologists predict the storm will move in Sunday morning, starting as snow and maybe accumulating about 1-2 inches. Snow is expected to change to freezing rain/sleet for most of Sunday afternoon into the evening. The temperature is expected to hover at or around 32F- 34F and then, start to rise Sunday night around midnight into Monday morning and change to all rain.

The team is closely tracking the weather. If there is no rain Saturday, crews will apply the brine/beet juice solution to bridges, ramps, other elevated structures and challenging residential streets to reduce the chance of freezing.

“Freezing rain is the most dangerous winter condition there is, so we urge residents to stay safe and stay home,” said DPW Director William O. Howland, Jr. “Make this a time for enjoying family, rooting for your favorite football team or catching up on that book you’ve been meaning to read.” Director Howland added that freezing rain also may result in loss of power, so residents should be prepared. Pepco strongly urges everyone to call 1-877-Pepco-62 (1-877-737-2662) to report power outages and downed wires (stay away from downed wires and report them immediately).

Property owners are asked to treat their sidewalks with an abrasive such as non-clumping kitty litter, a deicer or rock salt. This snow season, the Snow Team is testing the effectiveness of pet-safe deicer on bridges with pedestrian sidewalks.

DPW leaf collection crews are the backbone of the Snow Team; therefore, leaf collection will be suspended starting Friday, December 6 through the end of the event. These crews will return to collecting leaves and will continue collections in Area A neighborhoods until they are finished.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user justinbc

Due to tomorrow’s weather OPM reports:

“Status: Open with Option for Unscheduled Leave or Unscheduled Telework

Federal agencies in the Washington, DC, area are OPEN and employees have the OPTION for UNSCHEDULED LEAVE OR UNSCHEDULED TELEWORK.”

One of my favorite times of the year.