New winter storm plows across Midwest

[Richard]

It was snowing lightly here Saturday and now early Sunday morning the snow is coming down heavy. It looks like I’ll be busy snow blowing and shoveling the next few days. icon_fluch
 

By DAN NEPHIN, Associated Press Writer

As much as a foot of snow fell from the Plains across the Midwest on Saturday, snarling road and air travel, as the second big winter storm in a week barreled through on its way to New England.

Tens of thousands of people still lacked electricity after the first storm slammed Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri earlier in the week. That storm was blamed for at least 38 deaths, mostly in traffic accidents.

Winter storm warnings and watches extended Saturday from Missouri across parts of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, the National Weather Service said. As much as 15 inches of snow was forecast in parts of southern Michigan, with 10 inches possible in Detroit.

Snow started falling early in the afternoon in Pittsburgh, accumulating to about an inch before tapering off. Light rain and freezing rain took over later.

"We'll have little bit of everything before the night is over," said Bill Drzal, a Weather Service meteorologist in Pittsburgh.

Areas to the north and east of the city could see as much as 12 inches through Sunday night, according to the Weather Service.

More than 200 flights were canceled because of the weather Saturday at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, one of the nation's busiest, and all other flights were delayed an hour, said Chicago Department of Aviation spokesman Gregg Cunningham.

Road travel also became tricky in northeastern Illinois, including Chicago's suburbs, where officials reported spinouts and cars in ditches.

"It's coming down steady," said Mike Claffey, spokesman for the Illinois Department of Transportation.

In southern Wisconsin, police in Waukesha said road conditions brought on by up to 5 inches of snow figured in a two-car accident that left a 51-year-old woman dead and three others injured. Police did not immediately release her name.

Residents across New England packed stores to stock up before getting slammed. The winter weather earlier in the week caught many people unawares, stranding commuters and school buses as it made some of the nation's busiest highways impassable.

Flakes also fell in traditionally snow-prone Buffalo, N.Y. Accumulations of a foot or more were predicted for much of New York state.

Concern about the approaching storm led the University of Connecticut to cancel Sunday's winter commencement ceremony. About 850 undergraduates had expected to receive diplomas Sunday, but school spokesman Richard Veilleux said officials were concerned about the safety of the students and their families and other guests on slippery roads.

Freezing rain was the culprit in the Plains earlier in the week, coating streets, windshields, tree limbs and power lines with ice as thick as an inch in Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri.

Oklahoma, hardest hit by the earlier storm, got only cold, light rain early Saturday that turned into just a few inches of snow. Neighboring Kansas, however, had as much as a foot Saturday morning, and the Highway Patrol reported Interstate 70 in central Kansas was snow-packed.

"We've had no fatalities or pileups, but we have numerous slideoffs," said Mary Beth Anderson, a patrol dispatcher. "I don't think there are a lot of travelers, just the ones who have to get out and go to work."

More than 2,300 people were in Kansas shelters Saturday because of the power failures and the fresh snow, said Sharon Watson, spokeswoman for the state Adjutant General's Department.

At the height of the last storm, a million customers in Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri were blacked out. By Saturday morning, utilities in the three states reported 270,000 customers still without electricity.

Officials in Oklahoma had worried the new snow could hamper power restoration efforts, but it turned out not to be a problem.

"The first several days, crews were working on emergency restoration and getting the backbone of the structure up — the main feeders and transmission lines," said Stan Whiteford, a spokesman for Public Service Co. of Oklahoma. "Now they're really getting into the neighborhoods. The customers are coming on in bigger chunks."

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Associated Press writer Murray Evans in Oklahoma City contributed to this report.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071216/ap_o...Aieg.s0NUE

[Polly]

You are not alone, Richard.  I'll be shoveling out here in MA later today.  :lol:

[Sily]

We were lucky here - just rain and a bunch of wind.

[Astrojewels]

Sorry to hear that the cold storms are coming. I am sure everyone here is aware I do not like the cold, but I have sometimes wondered what it would be like to have Christmas dinner with snow, the fire roaring and experience the complete opposite of Christmas in OZ. Has anyone ever wondered how it would be to experience the complete opposite of what is normal? Or has anyone experienced the opposite of what is normal?

[Mercy Now]

Oh yes Karen I've  had Christmas in southern California and south Texas. Both times I missed the snow but then there have been many times in the midwest when we didn't have snow on Christmas and it's even been warm a couple of times. I used to tell my kidlets ..." Christmas isn't brought to you by Hallmark!:big grin:"

We were spared the worst of the storm and just got a couple inches of snow that is rapidly melting. The wind is strong today however. We also got some rain which I welcome after the summer drought. I think we are only an inch or so below normal now.

[Astrojewels]

That’s interesting MN, how did it feel I am curious because when you get used to something, all other things feel strange, like abnormal. I am also glad to hear that you were just a little below your normal rain fall, the rain is always welcoming when you have experienced drought. I wish we could get to half our normal.

[Mercy Now]

Well for something to feel abnormal you would have to accept that there is a normal:) .I say that because my upbringing was very eclectic in a seemingly traditional almost Edwardian setting so my idea of normal isn't quite like most. To me there aren't a lot of  things that are fixed in life.

However to answer your question the first time I had Christmas in a non - traditional setting was somewhat like an adventure. It was also my first Christmas away from my  family and I did miss them very much though in my teenage way(I was 18) I would never admit it.And I missed the homeplace almost more than I could bear.

  In south Texas again I missed my family and the homeplace but Texas is  like a whole country itself and there was many traditions etc. there to explore. There I had my own young family to tend to  and I was 6mos preggers .


Karen, I like some snow . It brings a hush, a stillness to the environment that is refreshing. The energy changes. At least temporarily. In the mountains it last longer.This was also very noticeable to me in the balmy climates where I spent a few Christamases . The energy didn't change very much in these places.

[Astrojewels]

Yes MN, you are correct there is no normal, I merely use the term out of habit, it is the same as using the word coincidence, it is not a word I believe should exist, however again one that is generally used, Non-traditional is a much better term.
I have only ever experienced hot days at Christmas with the exception of maybe 2 times of cooler days. When I was growing up my mother would tell me tales of her Christmas celebrations in snow that was up to her knees, and how what they would do to keep warm, I really enjoy hearing how others do things, it is really fascinating. I think everyone should write a book about their life, some people think their life is boring and ordinary but everyone has a special tale to tell.

[Richard]

We got around a foot of snow out here today. Its stop snowing and it sounds like the worst is over for now. I agree it’s nice to have snow around for Christmas. It doesn’t feel like Christmas to me unless there’s snow around. This area of Michigan usually doesn’t get much snow until Christmas time. Then from Christmas to March we get lots of it.

[DreamTime]

Sorry to hear about all your snow, Richard! There is no snow here in New Jersey. In fact, the weather has rarely gotten below 40! Have you shoveled out a path for Anubis in the back yard?

As to your question, Astrojewels...I have spent Christmas's in many different states on the East Coast, West Coast, and in the middle. I always feel a little sad when there is no snow for Christmas because it just seems like there should be. After all, Santa lives in the North Pole with lots of snow! :lol:  But I also like the beauty of the first snow and, like MN said, it brings a sense of quietness and wonder to the world. I do tend to adapt to where ever I happen to be at the time, but deep inside, I am a snow person.