D.C. Metro Will Be Closed for Commuting, But Capitol Hill Will Be Open for Sledding

Jason Samenow reports on the impending arrival of a "crippling blizzard" to the Washington, D.C. area on January 22.

Just how crippling? Paul Duggan and Julie Zauzmer reported on January 21 that "[Metro] rail and bus systems will be closed this weekend due to the major snowstorm expected in the region." The scope of the closure is unprecedented: "Officials said they believe it is the longest closing in the system’s more-than-40-year history."

Scott Calvert and Jon Kamp report that the blizzard is expected to strike a geographic area spanning Virginia to New York. Glenn Schwartz reports on the expected impact of the storm in Philadelphia, for example.

A bit of a bright spot from amid the portentious reports of the day, the Associated Press reports that children will be permitted to sled on Capitol Hill, thanks to act of Congress. The more permissive rules on Capitol Hill arise from a controversy last year. Parents might want to read an article by Colby Itkowitz, which argues that snow days are nature's way of telling us we need a day off—so we should take advantage.

Finally, the Boston Mayor Marty Walsh displayed some serious empathy for those in the path of the storm, after last year's infamous Nor'easter brought all manners of political difficulty for that city last year.