Two days after the snow storm (8 photos)

[Mike Buckley]

I made a set of photos captured during the snow storm that swamped the Washington, D.C. area. The photos shown below were captured about 48 hours later in the same neighborhood.


Photo #1: Lots of snow everywhere in the neighborhood.



Photo #2: During the snow storm, only the opening of this mailbox was visible. The snow has begun melting but becomes noticeable only when paying attention to the details.



Photo #3: Some of the streets in the neighborhood still had not been plowed and people were still digging out.



Photo #4: You would know there are steps there only because of the handrails.



Photo #5: A family made a large mound of snow in their front yard and left several objects outside so the neighborhood kids could have fun sliding down it.



Photo #6: The curbside at this bus stop is not so appealing at the moment.



Photo #7: This definitely would have taken first prize for the best snow man in the neighborhood.



Photo #8: So few of the highways had been cleared that the grocery stores had not restocked their shelves with the basics that customers had depleted in anticipation of the snow storm.

[tbob]

Excellent documentary series. The black and white works well with the snow texture and to reduce the images to the essentials.

[Shadowman]

Nicely captured, I read that sledding has been banned in some areas near government buildings.

[AlwaysOnAuto]

Thanks for posting those Mike. I was wondering what would happen to all that snow. I guess you really have to know your way around in those types of conditions in order to stay on the road.

John- I think the sledding is banned as it reminds the politicians too much of how the country is going down the tubes, but that's another thread.

FYI - We saw 78*f on our thermometer today.

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, everyone! I certainly had a lot of fun making the photos, though not so much fun that I look forward to the next snow storm and blizzard of this magnitude.

[pnodrog]

Having had a very sheltered life I have never encountered snow in a suburban location so I find your excellent photographs interesting. I trust it all melts and drains away without drama.

[NorthernFocus]

Nice set of images to tell the story. We take snow handling/moving for granted. But even here that big of a dump slows things down for a day or two. Downtown streets and sub-divisions are particularly problematic because there is limited space and no where to move the snow. At least down there it will be gone of it's own accord in a few days.

[Adzman808]

It's a great series of shots Mike,

I think my personal fav is #8 as it so perfectly tells a story and I really like how you've used colour

but the reportage of #1, the compositional elegance of #4, and the moment capture of 5 are all highly praise worthy

[John 2]

Nice set Mike. I hope the melt doesn't bring another set of problems.

[IzzieK]

Here in Missouri, for the big recent flood from the non-stop rain for three days, then snow for another three and the cold temperatures bursting some pipes from accidents and all that, some places became flooded again. 'Glad e live in a higher area, none of that here, nothing really exciting happening. That's another story.

Mike...all excellent reportage of your recent incidents.I like #5 very much. The fun that boy was having was really good. #7 -- curb appeal or not, in a bus stop at least one can shelter from the cold winds. I also like the diagonal shot of the stairs -- all those whites including the rails. That mailbox needs a little bit more snow removing so one gets the daily mail -- unless your mail person delivers mail by foot (walking, not measurement ). All good shots...even the snowman is colourful. Hope you and your wife are OK..

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, everyone!

Some people asked about or mentioned the melting snow. Fortunately, the high temperatures of the day are expected to be well above freezing for the next week. The worst situation will be the open parking lots where the snow has been plowed into such huge piles that it may remain taking up valued space for two months. As the snow on the streets melts, the water will flow into the drains in the streets but only if the snow doesn't block the flow of the water. If the flow is blocked, water will build up at intersections. If it freezes it becomes not just a nuisance but also a danger.

I haven't been in my car since the snow arrived, but I assume all of the snow has been removed from the major highways. That's because the federal government returns to work for the first time today (four days after the snowfall ended). My wife's office is also open for the first time today. If the major highways weren't cleared, employees wouldn't be able to get to their offices. Even so, almost all if not all of the school systems are closed and some have already announced that they will remain closed until next week.

My guess is that the snow will be blocking sidewalks such as the one at the photographed bus stop for at least another week and possibly two weeks. If the plows don't continue to come through my neighborhood, I expect the roads will allow cars going only in one direction for another two weeks.

The mail is delivered in my neighborhood on foot. In fact, the mailboxes I captured in both sets of photos are unusual in the neighborhood because they are at the sidewalk; almost all of the homes either have a mailbox attached to them or have a mail drop cut into the front door. Regardless, the mail hasn't been delivered since the snow began in full force probably because the snowed-in roads prevented personnel from getting from the regional post offices to the neighborhoods.

The photographed bus stop may offer a little shelter from the wind and rain, but it's nearly impossible to get to it. The sidewalk has not been shoveled, so people walking to that bus stop will be up to their knees in snow.

The governor of Virginia has gone on public record as saying that the expense relating to this snowstorm will probably be the highest ever at about $100 million. He said the cost of prevention and cleanup measures is $2 - $3 million per hour (that's correct; per hour). Considering the number of hours that have already occurred for a cleanup effort that is 24 hours per day, that math doesn't work out. So, I have no idea what the hourly cost really is.

[chauncey]

don't convey the wind.

I beg to differ my friend...looking at the different snow depths on the houses' roofs convey the wind's effects.

I was hoping that you would be able to get out and do some shooting...thanks for the series.

Mother Nature seems to be like our government...no rhyme or reason who it chooses to dump on...

[KimC]

I enjoyed this set Mike. I especially love the child on the tub - the expression is priceless.

[chauncey]

To add to my previous comment, the Snow Dragon...http://www.snowdragonmelters.com/home.asp?ID=2
is on the way...http://news.yahoo.com/snow-dragon-wa...153222601.html

[Mike Buckley]

I wrote earlier today that I assumed the major highways have been cleared. Sadly, I now realize that's not so. It took my wife an hour to get to the office when it normally takes 20 minutes. That's because a major road she takes still has only one full lane each way rather than two. That road was that way two days ago when I was walking through the neighborhood and it apparently has not changed much in the 36 hours since then.

[DEAN01]

Mike,
Very good documentary series. You have captured the various problems ,and occassional fun, involved with the aftermath of a snowstorm.

[Wavelength]

Really enjoyed them.....