Cold Jan in DC

are things likely to be closed due to weather conditions in January

Cold Jan in DC

It%26#39;s hard to predict, but it is possible. I%26#39;m having trouble remembering when it happened last, but definitely in 1994 (my first winter in DC) there were major ice storms and the federal govt shut down. Again for the blizzard of %26#39;96, also January. And I think maybe 2 or three years ago. This seems like something DrWong would remember... If I recall correctly, if the federal govt shuts down, so does everything else. (I know my office does - hooray!)

Cold Jan in DC

Well the beginning of January when you are arriving isn%26#39;t too bad. Although ';The Blizzard of 96'; was in the beginning of January. There is always a chance of snow and ice storms during that time. Temps. usually average anywhere from 30%26#39;s-50 degrees depending on the ozone. Just pack appropriate clothing- No Shorts or Sandals. A nice parka always works with a hat and scarf should do you fine.

Since that is also the New year week, most of the facilities will try and stay open for the tourists. Also I remember one snow storm we had family from Atlanta and the Fed.Government gave their employees the day off yet some of the museums were still open and we went to Mt. Vernon which is beautiful when it snows.

Monuments never close and the buses and metro never stop running although they will be on a delayed schedule. Malls, restaurants and private museums/attractions rarely close when it snows. And they never close for anything less than 5-6'; of snow. Only in Blizzard like conditions and/or ice storms do they close. i.e. The Spy Museum, the Phillips Collection, Mt. Vernon home,etc.etc.

In a word, no.

Perhaps every five years or so, we%26#39;ll get a farily large blizzard that totally paralyzes the city for a few days (lauded each time by local newscasters as the ';Storm of the Century';). The last was in 2003. Before that was 1996. Before that was, I believe, 1993.

In a typical winter, very few public institutions ever officially ';close'; with the notable exception of the school systems. I would be willing to wager that the biggest attraction in town, the various Smithsonian museums, were closed no more than four days total through the three storms I%26#39;ve mentioned.

The difficulty is in getting around. Streets can go unplowed for days. Metro generally doesn%26#39;t close either for weather conditions, but their bus and rail operations can be extremely slow.

The outdoor memorials never close for the weather.

Federal and local governments are very rarely *closed* , but rather operate under a liberal leave policy on snow days where employees can opt to skip coming to work without prior approval, but need to use their own leave. Many government employees now have the ability to telecommute when necessary, so even snow days don%26#39;t totally shut down the government, even when the offices are devoid of workers.

Obviously nobody can predict weather more than a week or so in advance, and you may find freakishly warm, sunny days in January where the temperatures are in the 50s. If you have concerns about what might happen weatherwise while traveling to Washington in the winter, the one suggestion I%26#39;d make is to reserve a hotel in the heart of the city walking distance to some of the attractions you want to see, even though it will likely be the most expensive option.

http://www.weatherbook.com/blizzard.html

In general, when it snows in this area, it is usually not much and it is melted on the roads and sidewalks by the 10 or 11 am.

re outdoor memorials

It%26#39;s true that they don%26#39;t close, but as a former volunteer with the National Park Service at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, I will say that the paths to and the memorials themselves are generally not shoveled or plowed right away, if at all, so you will have a time getting around. I know that as a volunteer I shoveled the memorial with other volunteers several times.

While the blizzard of 96%26#39; hit us during the first week in January, historically most of our blizzards have hit us around President%26#39;s day weekend which is early/mid February.

Unless we get more than 6'; in a 24 hour period, most everything will remain open. However, traffic quickly goes from a normal pain in the butt to a living hell. Also if there if is even a hint of a storm coming, all of the milk, bread and toilet tissue will fly off the shelves.

Bottom line is check the forecast and dress appropriately. You should be fine.

Although the January 2004 weekend I was in DC felt arctic due to the combination of low temperatures %26amp; gusty winds (snowstorm had hit before my arrival), the sidewalks %26amp; streets were definitely passable %26amp; everything was open.

scars