Evening star., 1934-03-23
HEAVIEST SPRING
SNOW IN 10 YEARS
COVERS DISTRICT.
Weather Bureau Predicts
Fall of Between Four
and Seven Inches.
FORCES Modified
TO CLEAR STREETS
Mercury Drops to II Degrees by
II 0'Clock-Relief Not I'M
mediately in Sight.

The Washington area was blanketed
today by the heaviest Spring snow
fall in 10 years.
With more than 2l2 inches of snow
covering the Capital and vicinity by
2 pm. Weather Bureau officials pre-
dicted a total snowfall of between four
and seven inches before the end of
the storm. The snow stopped falling
about 80, but this was only a tenn
porary let-up, it was indicated.
At the same time. District officials
we're mobiizing their forces for an
other battle to keep streets and high
ways clear.
approximately $50 were at work
in the streets this afternoon. using
brooms and shovels in an effort to
keep some of the more important
intersections clear. A few plows also
were put into operation for a while.
but this work was abandoned when
it was found the snow was too light
and powdery"
The snow was not confined to this
section. The bureau reported that
similar conditions existed from the
Atlantic Coast to points as far west
as Wyoming.
Thermometer Sinks.
The snow came on the heels of a
day and night of wintry weather that
belied the advent of Spring. BY 9
a m. today, the official thermometer at
the bureau was threatened with seri-
Gus sinking spells"
From II degrees at M, the mer-
curry dropped to II during the next
three hours-the minimum tempera-
ture for the last "a hours. Although
it had risen 2 degrees by pm, fore
casters said they doubted it would
climb much higher. However, it was
not expected to go below 20 tonight.
All they could foresee. as a matter
of TACT, was-well nothing that looks
like warm weather" They conceded.
however. that there might be brief
let-ups in the cold.
There were 900 men Of the Refuse
Department ready to swing into action
with 33 trucks and fiushers. all
equipped with plows. and an addi-
tional IL trucks from the highway
division. District officials also held
500 men ready to report for work
at pm
For tomorrow, the weather man
said he expects partly clear weather
and mot quite so cold" There is no
general moderation of temperature in
sight, however, he added.
The Spring record was established
in 1891, when a total Of II inches
covered the ground on March q and
%. The heaviest in recent years was
on April /. 1924. when 5.5-inch fail
necessitated the calling off of Bowie
races for the only time in the history
OF the track. 1oday'S weather caused
race officials at Warrenton, Va. to
postpone the point -to-point Steeple-
chase scheduled there for tomorrow.
A measurable amount of snow has
fallen in this section as late as April
%. as half inch fell on that date in
1898.
A dispatch from Hagerstown. Md.
stated that snowstorm was sweep
ing the Cumberland Valley section
this morning, with indications that it
would reach blizzard proportions. 1t
started at s am.
Will Retard Blossoms.
The snow and cold weather has re-
tarded the bloSsoming of the japanese
cherry trees SO much that it was i'm
possible to estimate the date of OPEN
ing today. 1t was said that at least
a week of warm sun is needed to
start the buds.
Up to noon today, park authorities
said, an examination of the cherry
tree buds showed no damage. The
officials were apprehensive over this
mornings snowstorm and possible
long spells of freezing weather.
Albert Clyde-Burton. assistant SUI
perintendent of the National Capital
parks, reported that his Snow-removal
crews were on the job early. Park
roads and walks through the down.
town area were being cleared of the
snow as rapidly as possible.
All airmail and air transport opera
tions out of Washington were at a
Standstill today. Eastern Air Trans
port, which sent its last passenger
plane through Washington yesterday
afternoon, reported all its operations
Cancelled north of Florence, N. c.
Bad weather prevailed all the way to
Atlanta on the other line.
The Army Air Corps airmail de-
reported only one Army mail
plane moving on the coastal run to-
day. This plane, leaving Jacksonville,
Fla, at O'Clock, was not expected
to get farther north than Savannah.
All operations over the Alleghenies
were suspended on the Washington
Pittsburgh Cleveland line.