Snow arrives with less fury than forecast

The winter storm that had residents crowding into grocery stores and gas stations in preparation was late in arriving yesterday but eventually became an imposing afternoon guest — causing widespread delays, traffic accidents and canceled flights and closing much of the region before nightfall.

As much as 5 inches of snow blanketed the metropolitan area by late afternoon, when the storm moved into the Atlantic.

Western Maryland saw the most accumulation in the region’s first major snowfall of the year with up to 8 inches.

“We are still expecting a few flurries in the morning hours,” said Jackie Hale of the National Weather Service in Sterling, Va.

However, the bigger concern will be temperatures in the 20s and wind gusts of up to 40 mph.

Forecasters initially predicted up to 10 inches in the Washington area as the storm roared in from the Midwest. Storm warnings were posted from Wisconsin to New England, where as much as 20 inches and blizzard conditions were expected.

The D.C. Department of Transportation had more than 180 snow vehicles clearing and treating streets by 9 a.m., and crews were expected to remain on duty through last night and today, spokesman Bill Rice said.

“We are very conscious of the Monday rush hour,” he said.

Police reported dozens of traffic accidents, but had no official numbers.

The most serious accident occurred about 11:30 a.m. in Montgomery County, where a Ride On bus skidded into a bus shelter at New Hampshire Avenue and Merwood Drive, injuring a 70-year-old Pennsylvania man.

The bus was slowing down for a traffic light when its rear end hit the structure, police said. The man, hit by parts of the falling shelter, was hospitalized in fair condition.

At least three deaths, all in Ohio, were attributed to the storm. A man died after falling through ice on a pond. Two others died of apparent heart attacks while removing snow, authorities said.

The early predictions of a major accumulation sent residents rushing to buy groceries Friday evening.

The Giant Food store in the Brentwood neighborhood of the District had plenty of food and water on the shelves, but many shoppers had to wait in line about 45 minutes to check out. Some passed the time by skimming magazines from the racks and joking about the “snow snacks” in their carts.

At the Whole Foods market in Logan Circle, checkout lines stretched to the back in the morning. The store offered plenty of food, but was short-handed because employees were having trouble getting to work.

Story Continues →