Washington DC closes as a winter storm hit the Washington region Wednesday, starting with a range of 1.5 inches to 4 inches of snow falling in the morning and changing by midday to sleet, with reports of thundersnow in parts of Western Maryland. As Federal Government is closed for the day, the Reserve has amended its release and will issue the FOMC minutes at 7 PM GMT. Its an unusual release by the Federal Reserve as the Statement release will be received to everyone at the same time including the journalists and traders.