The Weather (2018)

[dracnal]

My mom is a retired Fairfax County teacher who still sometimes works as a substitute and she explained the calendar is done differently from the way we all remember from when we were kids. It used to be they had to have 180 days and they'd schedule 183, with those three days being used to allow for snow days without making them up if needed. Now, apparently, the Commonwealth gives school districts a choice of either a straight number of days or an alternate method that measures classroom instructional hours. My mom said apparently Fairfax uses the latter method and it allows them a lot more flexibility for snow days. She said that going into this week they had used five of thirteen snow days.

They should just close tomorrow if next week is spring break and they were just closed for two days. Seems dumb to reopen for just one day.

While it may seem kind of dumb, there's a pretty good reason for schools trying to stay open as much as possible. Food insecurity. DC is the worst for that, with 60+% of kids getting free/reduced lunch. If you close school, those kids do not get breakfast or lunch. Some of them wouldn't get dinner ordinarily and only eat at school. Add in financial hardship caused by needing to miss work or pay for a day care service and it's pretty painful for a large number of families.

[bluestreak]

While it may seem kind of dumb, there's a pretty good reason for schools trying to stay open as much as possible. Food insecurity. DC is the worst for that, with 60+% of kids getting free/reduced lunch. If you close school, those kids do not get breakfast or lunch. Some of them wouldn't get dinner ordinarily and only eat at school. Add in financial hardship caused by needing to miss work or pay for a day care service and it's pretty painful for a large number of families.

This is why DC schools almost never close. It has to be a significant event for them to consider it.

[1995hoo]

The food issue never crossed my mind, but that's certainly a valid consideration.

[imref]

My mom is a retired Fairfax County teacher who still sometimes works as a substitute and she explained the calendar is done differently from the way we all remember from when we were kids. It used to be they had to have 180 days and they'd schedule 183, with those three days being used to allow for snow days without making them up if needed. Now, apparently, the Commonwealth gives school districts a choice of either a straight number of days or an alternate method that measures classroom instructional hours. My mom said apparently Fairfax uses the latter method and it allows them a lot more flexibility for snow days. She said that going into this week they had used five of thirteen snow days.

They should just close tomorrow if next week is spring break and they were just closed for two days. Seems dumb to reopen for just one day.

Prince William uses the same system.  FWIW, I've seen facebook posts from people trying to change their flights to today to get a few extra days of spring break vacation.

[imref]

that was a lot of rain.  looks like a tornado touched down in lynchburg last night, lots of damage.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Woke up this morning and there was a layer of ice on the ground in So. NH.  North of here, snow.  Today is the Boston Marathon.  The wheel chairs will start in <40 degree temperature.  It's mostly mist right now, but  there should be some wind picking up as it warms to upper 40s.  Also some downpours.  I fly back to DC at 6 tonight.  I'm hoping no thundershowers.

Sox / Os 11 AM game was cancelled

[Mathguy]

Plenty of rain & wind here in OBX last night.  Were there any tornado effects in the DC area last night ?

that was a lot of rain.  looks like a tornado touched down in lynchburg last night, lots of damage.

[dcpatti]

Beach Drive just past the DC/MD line:  https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/DC-Maryland-Virginia-Weather-Forecast-Wide-Range-of-Temperatures-Ahead-of-Strong-Storms-479805553.html?_osource=SocialFlowFB_DCBrand

I live off of Piney Branch which is off of Beach between Porter and Tilden, so this isn't terribly far from me.  I take my motorbike up that way when I want a quick loop around the park.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Beach Drive floods a lot.  Back when I bike commuted from my office in Rockville they closed Beach to cars for like 2 months after a big flood undercut the pavement.  Summer of '06 I think...I remember going to a very wet Nats/Blos game at OPACY at the very start of an extended deluge where the whole area got like a foot of rain. 

[GburgNatsFan]

Jesus. Is there anything you *don't* know about? 

(Seriously, I look forward to all your posts.)

Beach Drive just past the DC/MD line:  https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/DC-Maryland-Virginia-Weather-Forecast-Wide-Range-of-Temperatures-Ahead-of-Strong-Storms-479805553.html?_osource=SocialFlowFB_DCBrand

I live off of Piney Branch which is off of Beach between Porter and Tilden, so this isn't terribly far from me.  I take my motorbike up that way when I want a quick loop around the park.

[mitlen]

Jesus. Is there anything you *don't* know about? 

(Seriously, I look forward to all your posts.)

Keeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeriste

I thought you were gonna type dcpatti is from W. PA.

[GburgNatsFan]

Keeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeriste

I thought you were gonna type dcpatti is from W. PA.

If there were a commercial starring "the most interesting woman in the world," it would feature dcpatti.

[mitlen]

If there were a commercial starring "the most interesting woman in the world," it would feature dcpatti.

She's on my "must read" poster list, no doubt.

[dcpatti]

Just wait till I start with my stories of taking the Washington State Police Motorcycle Officer Certification course. I wrecked 2 KZP’s but so did everyone else, and I didn’t break any bones, so I think I did ok.

[varoadking]

Just wait till I start with my stories of taking the Washington State Police Motorcycle Officer Certification course. I wrecked 2 KZP’s but so did everyone else, and I didn’t break any bones, so I think I did ok.

Ponch & John's?

[GburgNatsFan]

Just wait till I start with my stories of taking the Washington State Police Motorcycle Officer Certification course. I wrecked 2 KZP’s but so did everyone else, and I didn’t break any bones, so I think I did ok.

[mitlen]

[varoadking]

That was great... 

[tomterp]

That was great... 

Somebody needs a hug.


Don't look at me though.

[imref]

Possibility of a derecho this evening with 60 - 75 MPH winds, 6-8 PM is peak risk:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2018/05/14/widespread-damaging-winds-could-affect-the-washington-region-late-this-afternoon-and-evening/

storms are coming out of W. PA

[skippy1999]

Possibility of a derecho this evening with 60 - 75 MPH winds, 6-8 PM is peak risk:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2018/05/14/widespread-damaging-winds-could-affect-the-washington-region-late-this-afternoon-and-evening/

storms are coming out of W. PA

hahaha well played 

[mitlen]

Possibility of a derecho this evening with 60 - 75 MPH winds, 6-8 PM is peak risk:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2018/05/14/widespread-damaging-winds-could-affect-the-washington-region-late-this-afternoon-and-evening/

storms are coming out of W. PA

We always do.   

[imref]

Tornado warnings currently from Hillsboro through Sterling. 

Lots of thunder in my area on the west end of PWC near Gainesville VA

[mitlen]

The end of days is in E. Loudoun.

[1995hoo]

Damn. It is pitch black out our back windows at 6:39 PM in Kingstowne. (Slightly less dark looking out front where there are fewer trees).