Snow emergency extended as "snowcrete" slows D.C. cleanup
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A snowplow attempting to clear a D.C. residential street. Photo: Daniel SLIM / AFP via Getty Images
D.C. officials are faulting "snowcrete" — thick layers of ice — for impeding the city's snow response, even leading to broken plows.
The big picture: The snow emergency — which began on noon Saturday, before snow and ice started falling — is now extended until 9:30am Thursday, as the city's plowing pivots from main arteries to residential streets.
Driving the news: While many streets still appear icy, D.C. Public Schools will open with a two-hour delay on Thursday. The city government will open at 10am.
Zoom in: A mix of snow, ice and this week's arctic cold blast has created "snowcrete" — a hardened layer that's especially difficult to clear.
- The city launched "hauling operations," using heavy construction equipment to break up the blocks.
- "That's a really slow process that requires a lot of effort, and it's going to take us some time to do," DC HSEM director Clint Osborn shared on X.
- The city's plow tracker isn't accurate, according to the city, adding to residents' frustration.
State of play: D.C. deployed 285 heavy and light plows, City Administrator Kevin Donahue said on X Wednesday, and contracted for additional front loaders, bobcats and dump trucks.
- Crews have hauled a mountain of snow — two football fields long and two stories tall — to RFK Stadium's parking lots, Donahue said.
- The "scoop and haul" operations are focusing on main roadways like Connecticut Avenue, Georgia Avenue and 16th Street as of Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, trash and recycling collection are still suspended. Mayor Muriel Bowser says the focus is on clearing city cans, followed by twice-a-week collections and then "super can collection."
- Updates will be posted on the DPW website.
The intrigue: The city is temporarily suspending enforcement of sidewalk snow removal rules — and waiving fines to nearly 200 businesses incurred since Sunday.
- "If you feel people are frustrated now, give them a ticket for 'snowcrete' they can't remove," Bowser said at a Wednesday press conference.
- Property owners are still generally responsible for clearing sidewalks, entryways and alleys — so don't wait for plows.
The bottom line: It was a rare storm that brought down 4 to 7 inches of snow, then several inches of sleet — compacting into the equivalent of a 20-inch blizzard, when measured by water content, the Capital Weather Gang says.
- Forecasters are tracking a coastal storm that could bring more winter weather to the DMV this weekend — potentially 4 additional inches of snow.
- D.C. is also looking at a record cold streak, according to the city, that could last into the first week of February.