PHOTOS: Snow snarls DC area

WASHINGTON — A snowstorm slammed the D.C. region Wednesday. Public school systems, and the federal government, were closed in response to the wicked weather.

See photos.

Happy snow day and #LoveYourPetDay @WTOP pic.twitter.com/1GYVzMUVXL
— NicolesWinecations (@NicWinecations) February 20, 2019

A few shots of the #snow above #annapolis #maryland We even heard some #thunder this morning@WTOP @suepalkafox5dc @JustinWeather @capitalweather @capgaznews @eyeonannapolis pic.twitter.com/3eD4dk1f6t
— Mid-Atlantic Aerial (@midatlaerial) February 20, 2019

A snow-capped White House and frozen Lafayette Square. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez)

A small plow clears Pennsylvania Avenue outside the White House’s north lawn on Wednesday. With the federal government closed, most of downtown D.C. was empty save for a few tourists snapping selfies in the snow. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez)

With a changeover to rain on Wednesday afternoon, half-melted slush pooled on most street corners along the National Mall, making life difficult for anybody hoping to keep their shoes dry. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez)

A snow plow clears slush off Connecticut Avenue on Wednesday afternoon. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez)

No bikes on Pennsylvania Avenue, where commuting was slow on Wednesday between slushy road surfaces and caravans of treatment vehicles. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez) — No bikes on Pennsylvania Avenue, where commuting Wednesday was slow — between slushy road surfaces and caravans of treatment vehicles. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez)

By noon Wednesday, rain and sleet had mixed in with snow — and slushy messes like this, near Dupont Circle, were common in downtown D.C. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez)

Well, at least someone is enjoying all the snow. (WTOP/Saeko Robinson)

Dupont Circle’s fountain in the snow. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez)

Newspaper stands in Dupont Circle, covered with snow. Visible is Connecticut Avenue looking northward. Most stores in the area were open as usual. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez)

The storm that hit the D.C. area Wednesday brought plenty of snow to the National Cathedral. (Courtesy Evan Johnson)

Northern cardinals take the snow and sleet in stride. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)

Escalators leading into the Dupont Circle Metro Station on Wednesday morning. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez)

Snow-covered escalators leading into the Dupont Circle Metro Station. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez)

A view southbound on Connecticut Avenue toward Dupont Circle. The Washington Monument would normally be visible in the distance from this spot. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez)

A snow-covered street sign near D.C.’s Dupont Circle on Wednesday morning. Normally busting with commuters at this time, traffic in this Connecticut Avenue neighborhood was light on Wednesday morning, with most residents indoors or salting sidewalks. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez)

Snow and sleet had stuck to most parked vehicles in D.C.’s Kalorama neighborhood. Pictured: A vehicle was its wipers raised near the Macedonian embassy on Wyoming Avenue, NW. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez)

Snow accumulates on a plant in D.C.’s Kalorama neighborhood. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez)

About three inches of snow had fallen in northwest D.C. by mid-morning Wednesday — easily manageable for residents, but enough to snarl long-distance travel and close schools and federal offices. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez)

In northwest D.C.’s Kalorama Heights neighborhood, snow was sticking to roadside signs and vehicles by mid-morning Wednesday. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez)

On Wednesday morning, Rock Creek Park was — unsurprisingly — most devoid of commuters, save for some joggers and residents of northwest D.C. walking dogs. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez)

A thoroughly frosted Rock Creek, seen from Beach Drive near Rock Creek Parkway mid-morning Wednesday. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez)

The entrance to Rock Creek in Woodley Park, mostly cleared of traffic. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez)

Rock Creek, looking southwest from the Connecticut Avenue overpass just after daybreak on Wednesday morning. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez)

Rock Creek Park seen from the Connecticut Avenue overpass in Woodley Park. Snow was accumulating quickly in the hours after sunrise Wednesday, making for a winter wonderland in D.C.’s largest park. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez)

Traffic on Rock Creek Parkway under Connecticut Avenue was sparse, save for a few commuters, snow plows and the occasional jogger on Beach Drive. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez)

A Jump bikeshare outside the Dupont Circle Metro Station. Despite the snow, some people were seen using bikes on the sidewalk. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez)

A vehicle passes under snow-covered trees on Beach Drive under the Connecticut Avenue overpass in Woodley Park. Roads on Wednesday morning in northwest D.C. were slushy, but drivable. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez)

A Capital Bikeshare station near the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and Calvert Street, NW sits largely unused as heavy snow moves in on Wednesday morning. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez) — A Capital Bikeshare station near the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and Calvert Street NW sits largely unused as heavy snow moves in on Wednesday morning. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez)

Lots of cancellations and delays at a quiet @DCA Natl Airport, but planes still are pushing off @WTOP pic.twitter.com/ndc4GM890o
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) February 20, 2019

(WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez)

Many roads and neighborhoods in D.C. are quiet Wednesday as people try to avoid the snowy weather. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)

There aren't many people, or cars, on the road in Northwest D.C. Wednesday. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty) — There aren’t many people, or cars, on the road in Northwest D.C. Wednesday. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)

Snow covers Annapolis. (WTOP/Joan Jones)

Plows make their way over Rock Creek Park in D.C. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez)

It's not the average rush hour at 8:55 a.m. on Wisconsin Avenue in Northwest D.C. (WTOP/Rick Massimo) — It’s not the average rush hour at 8:55 a.m. on Wisconsin Avenue in Northwest D.C. (WTOP/Rick Massimo)

The view up 39th Street, just off Wisconsin Avenue, in Northwest D.C.just before 9 a.m. Feb. 20, 2019. (WTOP/Rick Massimo)

This Boston terrier does not appear to be enjoying Wednesday's weather in Vienna. (Courtesy @ReblandoPR via Twitter) — This Boston terrier does not appear to be enjoying Wednesday’s weather in Vienna. (Courtesy @ReblandoPR via Twitter)

The D.C. region was hammered by snow Wednesday. (WTOP/Alejandro Alvarez)

A backhoe begins the messy task of cleaning up the snow in Purcellville. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)

The NoMa-Gallaudet Metro station got a coating of snow Wednesday. (WTOP/Chris Cichon)

Takoma Park Police dogs play in the snow Wednesday. (Courtesy Takoma Park Police)

Plows on patrol along the GW Parkway south of Alexandria. (WTOP/Kristi King)

A plow hits the road in the District. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)

A D.C. resident checks his phone during the snowstorm. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)

Drivers make their way through dangerous conditions in D.C. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)

Maintenance crews shovel snow in Tenleytown. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)

Plows remove snow from the Capitol grounds Wednesday. (WTOP/Mitchell Miller)

Snow blankets the Capitol in D.C. on Wednesday. (WTOP/Mitchell Miller)

Snow completely blankets a neighborhood in Hagerstown, Maryland. (Courtesy Kirk Marek)

District residents brave the snow Wednesday. (WTOP/Steve Dresner)

The District's Woodley Park got its fair share of snow Wednesday. (WTOP/Brennan Haselton) — The District’s Woodley Park got its fair share of snow Wednesday. (WTOP/Brennan Haselton)

Snow blankets crosswalks and roadways in Chevy Chase. (WTOP/Will Vitka)

This very good dog braved the snowy weather Wednesday. (WTOP/Carlos Prieto)

It's a winter wonderland in Falls Church, Virginia. (WTOP/Hillary Howard) — It’s a winter wonderland in Falls Church, Virginia. (WTOP/Hillary Howard)

A plow fights the buildup of snow in Chevy Chase. (WTOP/Will Vitka)

A cardinal waits among snowy tree branches. (Courtesy Kathleen Malone)

That sound you hear is my brakes not stopping me, because I was going too fast for the conditions. Slow down, Neal (and anyone else who's like to keep safer) Really snowy and slippery in Leesburg. @WTOPtraffic @WTOP pic.twitter.com/RNRPuQtYEe
— Neal Augenstein (@AugensteinWTOP) February 20, 2019

(WTOP/Michelle Basch)