Washington Snow Storm Further Shuts Down Washington, Congress

Washington snow is causing more gridlock than the government right now. A new Washington snow storm continues to shut down the nation's capital and every form of government. Already, the city has had to dig out from a record setting 30 inches of snow. In the last three days, citizens may have only been able to dig out half, but today's new round of Washington snow more than fills the void. With 10-20 more inches falling, the record setting winter is making one more stand - and hopefully a final one.

Today's problems aren't limited to Washington, of course. All the East Coast states that dealt with Saturday's record storm now face another blizzard. Last time, the most unlikely areas got 30 inches or more, like Washington did. Today, the worst of it is likely only up to 20 inches - and it says something that such a storm can be considered mild.

Having one major snow storm in a season is notable, but having two in the span of five days is something else entirely. What's more, this is the third big Washington snow storm of the season, after December's blizzard. These three snowfalls combined make this one of the biggest winters ever, for the nation's capital and much of the East Coast.

Everyone has to stay in because of this weather, and the government is leading the way on that end. D.C. was already shut down due to last weekend's storm, so with this new one, it's unlikely that Congress will resume any time soon.

Despite all the issues that they are working on, Congress has been shut down by weather, instead of red tape, filibusters and obstruction. They were already scheduled to take off for President's Day week, but now there likely won't be any voting until February 22, according to Reuters.

Average citizens may not have too much pity for Congress, since they can't take off for 12 days, even with this storm. The Washington snow has already been hard to overcome, but things are so bad now that cleanup has been suspended. Plowing operations and utility crew work cannot go on, due to 'hazardous weather conditions,' while airports and malls were also shut down, and more power is being lost throughout the city.

Since most of the East Coast is facing the same weather, the Washington snow storm and difficulties aren't unique. Yet their problems symbolize just how rough this winter has been, and how hard it is to go on with business as usual.

Just when residents were finally making their way through Saturday's blizzard, they must dig out of a new one, as well as the substantial remains of the last one. Since Washington's snow fall was among the worst of it - and since it is shutting down the entire - it faces the hardest recovery of all.

Sources

Washington Post- "Washington snow forces snow plows, utility repair crews off the road"

Reuters- "Back-to-back storms put Congress on ice"