Obama Dubs Northeast Storm ‘Snowmageddon’

By Lei Chang
Lei Chang
Lei Chang
February 7, 2010Updated: February 7, 2010

The greater Washington, DC area was blanketed by a major snowstorm over the weekend. (Jeff Nenarella/The Epoch Times)
The greater Washington, DC area was blanketed by a major snowstorm over the weekend. (Jeff Nenarella/The Epoch Times)
WASHINGTON—States on the east coast of the United States faced an intense blizzard over the weekend. Virginia and Maryland, near the nation’s capital, were in a state of emergency as many flights were cancelled, traffic became congested, and schools closed due to the sudden storm.

According to The Hill, a political news Web site, during his address before the Democratic National Committee's Winter Meeting Saturday, President Obama coined the term "snowmageddon" to describe the storm. The term has become a popular way to describe the storm and its affects.

The D.C. Metro rail system continues to be closed at all above ground stations. The federal government is closed on Monday. The major roads have been plowed but the neighborhood roads are still pretty rough. Many cars are still completely buried.

Although the heavy snowfall brought transportation to a halt, people were playing in the snow, strolling, and taking photos, as well as shoveling snow and digging out their cars.

Due to the forecast of the blizzard, there was a surge of shoppers in Washington, D.C. the night of Feb. 4. Grocery stores, which usually did not have many customers, were filled with long lines, shelves were quickly emptied, and even shopping carts were hard to find in some stores. People expecting to stay home during the blizzard appeared to be buying enough food to last through the storm.

According to the National Weather Service, there is a 70-90 percent chance of more heavy snowfall in the Washington, D.C. area on Tuesday and Wednesday.

With additional reporting by Jeff Nenarella and Genevieve Long.

Wheaton, Maryland was digging itself out on Sunday morning from the region's biggest snowstorm in more than 70 years. (Jeff Nenarella/The Epoch Times)
Wheaton, Maryland was digging itself out on Sunday morning from the region's biggest snowstorm in more than 70 years. (Jeff Nenarella/The Epoch Times)
Wheaton, Maryland was digging itself out on Sunday morning from the region's biggest snowstorm in more than 70 years. (Jeff Nenarella/The Epoch Times)
Wheaton, Maryland was digging itself out on Sunday morning from the region's biggest snowstorm in more than 70 years. (Jeff Nenarella/The Epoch Times)
Wheaton, Maryland was digging itself out on Sunday morning from the region's biggest snowstorm in more than 70 years. (Jeff Nenarella/The Epoch Times)
Wheaton, Maryland was digging itself out on Sunday morning from the region's biggest snowstorm in more than 70 years. (Jeff Nenarella/The Epoch Times)
The greater Washington, D.C. area was blanketed by a major snowstorm over the weekend. (Jeff Nenarella/The Epoch Times)
The greater Washington, D.C. area was blanketed by a major snowstorm over the weekend. (Jeff Nenarella/The Epoch Times)
The greater Washington, D.C. area was blanketed by a major snowstorm over the weekend. (Jeff Nenarella/The Epoch Times)
The greater Washington, D.C. area was blanketed by a major snowstorm over the weekend. (Jeff Nenarella/The Epoch Times)
5 People Shot in Washington Before Shooter Turned Gun on Himself
RELATED
New York City Investigating Brooklyn Building Collapse That Killed 8, Injured 18