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Snow Paralyzes DC, Mid-Atlantic

Capital could get walloped with 2 1/2 feet as storm rages on

By Polly Davis Doig, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 6, 2010 10:40 AM CST

(Newser) – Emergency crews struggled to keep pace with the heavy, wet snow that continued to batter the Mid-Atlantic region today, as the white stuff piled up on roadways, toppled trees, and left hundreds of thousands without electricity. The storm, with 10 inches on the ground at the White House and up to 2 1/2 feet predicted, was poised to be the biggest for the nation's capital in modern history.

As of early today, parts of Maryland and West Virginia were buried under more than 20 inches. Forecasters expected snowfall rates to increase, up to 2 inches per hour through this morning. Most people seemed to be following officials' advise to hunker down at home and out of the way of emergency crews. "Things are fairly manageable, but trees are starting to come down," said a DC fire department spokesman.

[Images (12)]

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The trees and park benches in Lafayette Park, across from the White House in Washington, are covered as snow continued to fall in the Washington area, early this morning, Feb. 6, 2010. (Susan Walsh)

A pedestrian makes his way up Calvert Street in a steady snowfall during a winter storm in Baltimore, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010. (Carolyn Kaster)

Workers clear a path through the snow by the West Wing of the White House in Washington, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, as snow continued to fall in the Washington area. (Susan Walsh)

Workers remove snow in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, early Saturday morning, Feb. 6, 2010, as snow continued to fall. Crews worked through the night to keep up with the heavy snowfall. (Alex Brandon)

Pedestrians walk past the White House in Washington, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, as snow continued to fall in the Washington area. (Susan Walsh)

Jim Arnold walks his Malamute, Blue, through heavy snow during a storm Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010 in Baltimore. (Gail Burton)

(P. Prengaman, reharris)

A person walks past a barrel with a fire in it during a winter snow storm in Philadelphia, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010. (Matt Rourke)

Heather Hindle, left, with Benji, and Jason Hindle with Sasha walk past the National Gallery of Art in Washington, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, as snow continued to fall the snow in Washington area. (Alex Brandon)

Louis Burrell walks down the steps as other workers use snow removal machines to clean up the plaza in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, early Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010. (Alex Brandon)

A Philadelphia firefighter who declined to be identified walks to a subway stop to go to work during a winter snow storm in Philadelphia early this morning, Feb. 6, 2010. (Matt Rourke)

Dave Donahoo and Beth Lidinsky walk their dogs during a snow storm Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010 in Baltimore. (Gail Burton)

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DC traditionally panics when it comes to snow. This time, it may be more justifiable than most times. - Arlington resident Becky Shipp

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Snow Paralyzes DC, Mid-Atlantic