I can certainly attest to the improved forecast accuracy for the Washington, D.C. area. Those who are responsible are unsung heroes.

Twenty years ago, my first winter in DC, I was caught unprepared when forecasts for a "dusting" turned into more than a foot. That was the winter that prompted the DC Metro (subway) system to put heaters on the power rails.

The first instance left me stranded on a snow-covered road, wearing flats and nylons, after our bus jackknifed and forced all us passengers off. Took six hours to travel 7 miles that day. A driver took pity on me walking along the road and gave me a lift for the final stretch, just as curling up in a snowbank was seeming inviting.

For the next decade I never again trusted a forecast. It had the benefit of motivating me to keep seasonally-appropriate gear at the office - a habit I continue though the forecasts have become much, much more reliable.