Record Heat Pushes DC Cherry Blossoms to Peak

Given a winter with record blizzards and damaging cold, one would have thought this day was forever away, but alas, thanks to a recent heat wave the cherry blossoms along Washington, DC's Tidal Basin are at full peak! The peak, which comes ahead of schedule (see earlier blog post), is defined as the date when 70 percent of the blooms are open.

The blooming of the cherry trees around the Tidal Basin has come to symbolize the natural beauty of our nation's capital. The famous trees, a gift from Japan 98 years ago in 1912, signal Washington’s rite of spring with an explosion of life and color that leaves (no pun intended) the area in a sea of pale pink and white blossoms.

Thousands of city residents and visitors from across the nation and around the world crowd the Tidal Basin, hoping that the trees will be at the peak of bloom for the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Well, friends, it's right on time! The Festival is underway and lasts through April 11.

Although I am not in DC this year, check out this slideshow of photos I've taken of the Cherry Blossoms in 2006.

Oh Hai Cherry Blossoms

The National Park Service predicted today the cherry blossoms in Washington, DC to be at peak bloom on April 8. The peak bloom date is defined as the day in which 70 percent of the blossoms of the Yoshino Cherry (Prunus x yedoensis) trees that surround the Tidal Basin are open. The date when the Yoshino cherry blossoms reach peak bloom varies from year to year, depending on weather conditions.

This year’s Cherry Blossom Festival runs from March 27-April 11. Festival dates are set based on the average date of blooming (April 4), but nature is not always cooperative. Unseasonably warm and/or cool temperatures have resulted in the Yoshino cherries reaching peak bloom as early as March 15 (1990) and as late as April 18 (1958).

The Festival commemorates the 1912 gift of Japanese cherry trees from the people of Japan to the city of Washington. Hanami (literally meaning “flower viewing") is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the beauty of flowers. In Japan, thousands of people fill the parks to hold feasts under the flowering trees, and sometimes these parties go on until late at night.

More information about the National Cherry Blossom Festival can be found here.

Blizzards Shatter I-95 Weather Records!

Yesterday’s blizzard, the second to slam the I-95 Corridor from Washington, DC to New York City within just a few days, marked the third severe snowstorm this winter to slam that region (the first being the December 19, 2009 blizzard).

Yesterday’s storm dumped an additional 10.8 inches on Washington, DC – a city that received more than double that amount of snow this past weekend. The extreme events concluded that this winter is now the national capital’s snowiest, with a total of 55.9 inches. This broke the old all-time winter snowfall of 54.4 inches set in 1898-1899.

Baltimore, MD shattered its previous all-time snowiest winter record as well. The 19.5 inches of snow that fell there during the past 24 hours brought this winter's snow total to 79.9 inches. The winter of 1995-96 and its 62.5 inches recently held the record.

15.8 inches of snow fell on Wednesday in Philadelphia. That brings this winter's snowfall total to 71.6 inches, breaking the previous record of 65.5 inches set in 1995-1996.

This winter is also now the all-time snowiest in Atlantic City, NJ and Wilmington, DE. So far this winter these cities received 48.7 inches and 66.7 inches, respectively.

I am sure I don’t have to remind anyone that winter is not over yet…

Second Huge Snow To Strike DC - Everyone Panic!

The snow should start falling during the morning hours of Friday in the DC area and will increase throughout the day, with heavier snow arriving during the late afternoon and evening hours. Snow will fall heavily through the night, and continue through Saturday morning, before tapering off during the afternoon hours. At this point, the worst conditions appear to arrive late Friday afternoon through Saturday morning… with heavy snow during this time. Snow will fall at the rate of several inches per hour at times.

Winter storm warnings are posted for the DC metro area, and current indications are that 18 to 24 inches of snow are possible in the area. This will rival or exceed the December storm in many areas. Winds gusting to 25 mph overnight Friday will make for blowing and drifting snow, and low visibility. Virginia has already declared a state of emergency and DC area federal offices are operating on unscheduled leave policy on Friday.

Significant and substantial disruptions to travel, including high impacts to the Friday evening rush hour are expected. This has the potential to be a significant snow storm, and possibly even historic.

Everyone panic. Or just enjoy this SNOrgasm! But maybe stock up on amo for later when you have to hunt squirrels for food.

Mid-Atlantic (DC) Snow FREAKOUTZ!

Well, we all know it's supposed to snow... It's February, it's winter, it's cold and it's moist. So you would *think* after December's Blizzard of 2009, that several additional inches of snow accumulation wouldn't yield such FREAKOUTZ! But it does... and always will. And we love you for it! We really, really do! That said, here's some of The Northeast Quadrant's favorite Mid-Atlantic (DC) Snow FREAKOUTZ!

By the way, and no cause for alarm (yeah right!)... but there is a potentially another MAJOR snowstorm heading towards the east coast this weekend, and again mid-next week. As mentioned, no cause for alarm but this weekend's storm could trump some recent biggies!

Now, enjoy the FREAKOUTZ!

• what's this I hear about snow tomorrow? I hope we get 2 feet again!!! • snow day tomorrow. Two to four inches, I hope they close the government. • 2-4 inches of snow expected between 4PM today & 7AM tomorrow in D.C. Please take precautions - is no longer a "weather alert" - it's a weekly occurrence • just got an alert from the City of Alexandria- weather alert AGAIN- 2-4 inches of more snow starting at 4:00 this afternoon- Winter- go back to Iowa please- we are done with you here in DC • will not be running his errands today due to the snow… dry cleaning and laptop/ipod shopping will have to wait. • DC weather people are saying our snow will be "light and fluffy" and "sweepable". Uh-huh. Better get out the broom... • the snow is now past "sweepable"... unless your broom has a shovel on the end of it! • calling for another 3-6" of snow overnight Tuesday... • snow starting… only 2-4 inches... but that's enough to f-up the roads here. • say it ain't snow, Joe. • Attention FB friends in the DMV area... The national weather service has issued a Winter storm warning beginning today at 5PM until tomorrow morning at 7AM. Accumulations predicted up to 3-6 inches. Take your time during rush hour and travel safely... • now it’s a warning. There goes all the toilet paper, eggs, milk and bread from all the grocery stores. • more than a weekly occurrence now & more joy Friday. Fairfax County Schools have canceled all afternoon & evening activities. • word on the street is we are supposed to get a huge storm this weekend in addition to tonight!?!!? Can anyone verify this??! • let it snow.... dc is under the gun for a big one!!! • I heard we were getting 49203 feet. • looks like we're about to get more snow! • These weekend storms are God's way of telling today's high schoolers to stay in school. • I do love the weather, almost as much as I love plants! That said, this is getting old. 2nd winter storm warning in 3 days, and were likely to go through it AGAIN Friday/ Saturday, with an even bigger storm. I mean, if it’s gonna be cold, snow is nice to look at and all, but really, it IS getting OLD! I’m so NOT a northerner when it comes to weather and plants. • It's been an unusual winter for DC. I don't think we had more than a couple of inches in the previous 2 winters combined. So far this year, we've had several storms. One dropped about 2 feet in December. Last Saturday we had about 6 inches. Apparently all the municipalities have already blown their snow budgets. • Uggh, we went from 1-2 inches, to 2-4 inches now 3-6 inches of snow. Going to the gym for a swim. • Seriously. I just checked weather.com and 3 hours ago we had 2-4, now 3-6... • WooHoo!!!! Snow day tomorrow? Better get to gym before it starts... • This snow and blizzard stuff is throwing off my workouts!! It has to stop soon or I won't be pretty by spring!!!!

More Snow in the Mid Atlantic – SNOtagain!!!

Happy Groundhog Day! To kick off six more weeks of winter glory, Mother Nature seems to have decided to send some more snow to the citizens of The Northeast Quadrant!!

Snow totals are expected to range from a slippery coating to an inch or two in New York City, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and 2 to 4 inches in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. Oh no SNOtagain!!!

Unsurprisingly, the forecast is enough to send Washington DC into panic mode. Government employees ARE expected to spend most of the evening pushing refresh on the OPM's Operations Status website.

Big Late January Snows (thanks SNOkie)

Wednesday I bravely predicted that snowfall amounts for this late January storm (The Northeast Quadrant is now calling #SNOkie) would be hard to call until Friday afternoon. Well I was wrong. It’s Saturday afternoon in DC, still snowing, and I’m not confident that we know yet. Conditions have been deteriorating since early Saturday morning. Currently in DC we have about six inches, with snow expected to continue falling heavily for a few more hours.

The current forecast shows that snow will taper off and then end from west to east overnight. Snow totals will locally exceed 1 foot from central Virginia into the Delmarva Peninsula. Washington will end up with between 4 and 8 inches and southern New Jersey could accumulate 2 to 4 inches.

How are folks dealing with the storm? Here’s a little round up of comments from around the Internet:

• Let the snow retardation begin. Someone just drove in to our building.
• I think the weather forecasters blew this call (3-5") already nearly 5" of snow here in Maryland...and not supposed to stop until 11 pm
• Can we dub the storm "WTFlurries"?
• 2:45 PM Roads are nasty. Mostly passable but in really bad shape. Saw very few plows. Peds must be careful - roads are extremely slick.
• Soccer in the snow, snow and more snow. So much fun, even when my eyelashes froze together. :-)
• There is no bad weather, only the wrong clothing.

Since were in the midst of the storm, let me take a moment to make a personal appeal – please people stop using umbrellas as a snow blockage device – you look dumb. Time to shovel (again) before it gets dark. Go SNOkie go!

Is it snOMG 2.0?

Snow's heading back into The Northeast Quadrant just in time for the weekend (sorry kids). A storm system tracking eastward from the Gulf Coast on Friday will begin tracking northeastward toward the Mid-Atlantic region Friday night. Some sort of lovely frozen precipitation (most likely snow) will bless the D.C area Friday night over Saturday.

Those of in the New York area will likely miss out on the brunt of the storm due to a massive high pressure system that will be parked right above you. It will be cold nonetheless.

Is that vague enough? Basically where the gradient sets up between hardly any snow and significant accumulation won’t be able to be determined until Friday night (or so). However the further south you go the heavier the snow will be.

snOMG 2.0? Probably not.

Slush Approaching the District!

Quick everybody, panic!!! Weather is approaching the District of Columbia!!! A fast moving low pressure system is set to move through the mid-Atlantic Thursday night into Friday.

Citizens in the national capital area should prepare for The Northeast Quadrant's least favorite precipitation type; the dreaded wintry mix of snow, sleet and rain! Nothing even remotely fun like ice pellets.

Boo "storm!" I should also mention that the storm is likely to cause stupidness during the morning rush.

New Yorkers need not panic, you likely only to get some rain or snow. Not that you would panic anyway. That is all.

Sunday Storm for The Northeast Quadrant

Yesterday The Northeast Quadrant posted about warmer, drier weather taking over the eastern half of the nation today and tomorrow. But that will all come to an end on Sunday.

A developing storm system in the gulf states will enter the Atlantic tonight and rapidly re-develop before heading north up the eastern seaboard. This is normally very exciting news in January, but with the recent surge of warmer air, it's sadly going to be a rain event.

Starting in the southern periphery of The Northeast Quadrant, the rain will begin around the Nation's Capital near daybreak Sunday on its track towards New England. Rain will probably enter the picture in the Big Apple by lunchtime and Bean-Town just in time for dinner. These two northern cities are forecasting the rain to mix with sleet and possibly change to snow before ending Monday morning. Wind will also be a factor, as is the case with most coastal storms.

Too bad that arctic air is all gone. This could have been a doozy of a snowstorm, a blizzard even.

40 Never Looked So Good!

At The Northeast Quadrant we LOVE cold, nasty, winter weather... but it's been so frigid and stormy lately, we are welcoming the milder breeze with open arms and lighter coats -- and for now, throwing the hats, scarves and gloves back in the closet.

That's right! 40 (degrees) never looked so good! But listen Mr. January Thaw (see earlier blog post), you better not overstay your welcome!

The polar jet (or the northern branch of the jet stream), which for weeks has dipped into the deep south, is now retreating back into Canada, thus allowing a nice push of southerly warmth to infiltrate most of the United States. When this happens the gates are open for temperatures to climb back to seasonal levels, or even slightly above normal. Within The Northeast Quadrant, from New York to Boston, temperatures into the low 40s can be expected through Saturday, while Washington, DC could rise to 50. This is a region of the country that has only reached 40 degrees once or twice since Christmas.

However, while we're enjoying the outdoors this weekend and feeling a little more comfortable, cold arctic air will be building up in northern Canada just waiting for that strong polar jet to show signs of bending. When it does, it will make it's move and the frigid temperatures and snow will return (we hope).

Seriously People it's too Cold for Naked Jogging...

Wednesday night the Secret Service apprehended a naked jogger near the Ellipse in Washington, DC. Jogging naked near the White House is never a good idea, particularly when temperatures are hovering around the freezing point.

The Northeast Quadrant reminds its fans to wear appropriate clothing during these Hoth-like temperatures we are currently experiencing.