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Subscribe to RSSAs much as 2 feet of snow was expected to fall on upstate New York by Tuesday as the storm moves eastward from Michigan, where more than 1 foot of snow fell by Monday afternoon. The Weather Channel's Mike Seidel has more.
Frigid air blasting over the Great Lakes blew in the season's first major lake effect snowstorm on Monday, blocking visibility and causing massive pileups on icy roads from Michigan to Kentucky.
As much as 2 feet of snow was expected to fall on upstate New York by Tuesday as the storm moves eastward from Michigan, where over 1 foot of snow fell by Monday afternoon, said meteorologist Bernie Rayno on Accuweather.com.
"You can see all of the snow showing up from the upper Peninsula of Michigan through western New York state, all the way through western Virginia and Kentucky," Rayno said.
The Ledger Independent / AP
Emergency crews work to remove a motorist trapped inside his vehicle on Monday near Maysville, Ky. A fast moving snow squall dumped nearly two inches of snow on top of freezing rain causing numerous accidents in the area.
"It's this west-northwest flow over the lakes that's causing this lake effect," he said.
Strong gusting winds and close to zero visibility was blamed for highway crashes such as a 30-car pileup south of Cincinnati that closed parts of Interstate 75 on Monday, police said.
Near Indianapolis, Indiana State Police were working to clear 80 crashes caused by slick road conditions that ended up shutting sections of Interstates 70, 465 and 65.
"People are sliding into barrier walls and on slick ramps," said Sgt. Rich Myers of Indiana State Police.
Strong winds will blow the snow showers as far inland as eastern New York and central Pennsylvania, the Weather Channel reported, with a few inches of accumulation possible in New England.
Across the whole of the Northeast U.S., gusts of up to 50 mph are forecast on Monday, it said.
“Cold and windy conditions are forecast to prevail across much of the northeastern quarter of the country,” the National Weather Service said in an alert issued at 2:48 a.m. ET.
“High temperatures are forecast to remain in the 20s across much of the Great Lakes and Ohio River Valley on Monday before impacting the Mid-Atlantic and New England by the following day," it added. “Snow will be plentiful over the Great Lakes."
The Detroit Free Press said blizzard warnings were in place for several northern Michigan counties and that the Traverse City area in northwestern lower Michigan can expect about 20 inches of snow.
However, urban Detroit is likely to escape the worst of the snow, it added.
Global losses to natural disasters are three times greater than they were in 1980. A look back at the natural disasters and extreme weather that devastated millions of lives in 2011.
“I don’t know too many people who are complaining,” about the lack of snow in metro Detroit, Mike Richter with the National Weather Service in White Lake Township told the newspaper. “Except maybe for the ski resorts.”
Reuters contributed to this report.
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Well, we all knew it would come... does every year! I'd gotten a bit spoiled, however, since this is really the first dusting of snow I've seen stick here in Ohio where I'm at. Unless it changes (which is daily here!) forecasts are for a melting and milder temps. this weekend, and I've no need to go to work today, so no complaints.......
One thing I hate; I'm born and raised in NE Ohio, and it seems EVERY year the first snowfall is somehow shocking to most, and they've forgotten how to drive in the snow... don't know how that happens, but the first few days of snow, I try to limit travel till people get their 'snow legs' back!
Thank god its not just me! As soon as snow falls from the sky it doesn't even have to stick people start crashing their cars.
Moderation, I'm in NE Ohio also and was thinking exactly the same thing! People think 60 mph is perfectly fine on ice.
Or, because they have 4WD, they are somehow safer on ice. Guess they don't realize all four wheels are slipping just like on any other vehicle.
Moderation....
It's just as bad in the SW corner.. They closed the interstate in three places this morning, and they are still stopped in KY just across the river. They never learn/remember. Give them a few days and the really bad ones will have crashed and it will be safer for the rest of us.
I just love though how its the snow/cold that CAUSED the mayhem and not the foolish drivers.
Evening Moderation...Would love to swap you..just had 43oC here and everything is burnt off, but no bushfires thank goodness. Have a Koala out the front so put some water out for him incase he wanted it. Friends of mine are in Europe at the moment and they are so disappointed there has been no snow. They missed out on a white Christmas was one of the reasons for going. Anyway hope you had a Happy New Year and I hope 2012 is a better one for you and your family. With best wishes from across the Pacific.
Yes! I'm in Erie and I can't wait for the snow, I've been waiting all year lol
I used to be in Erie (Haborcreek). Now I'm in Orlando. The big difference is, we don't have to shovel sunshine.
I began cycling last Spring and bought an "indoor trainer" that converts my bicycle into an indoor stationary bike. I haven't had to use it yet because were been getting an unusual 2-3 sunny days with temps 48-60F at least twice a week in Central Maryland through November and December. This week, though, I'm going to have to do one or two low 40's rides. I figure I'm good until the weather goes subfreezing or windy.
i am very very very glad i live in fl. tampa bay area----we are expecting around 32 in the morning------------we who are cold at 60 degrees---it is horrible to be cold i hate it
Whomever can still honestly deny the influence of global warming on our planet Earth after the tumultuous and deadly global weather phenomena of 2011 is an idiot. Vote the liars and deniers out of our government and pass legislation to ease the effect of man-made global warming, for the sake of our children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and beyond! It is the conscientious thing to do. This planet belongs not only to the living, but to the future generations of humankind. Respect the planet and its ecosystems, or beware of the consequences of a pissed-off Mother Nature!
Cold, windy and snowy in Western NY. A perfect day to stay inside and bake cookies.
A Buffalo, NY Native, now living in Jacksonville, FL. I do miss the winters back home. Lived thru the Blizzard of '77 & was an experience of a lifetime!
occupy the snow!
Slow down you dumb bastar%s!
The 30 car pile up was NOT in Cincinnati, it was in Kentucky! However, I had to drive on that highway later on and found that the roads hadn't been treated at all! The DOT said they were 'surprised' by the snow, which is impossible unless they hadn't looked at the forecast in the past several days! I think they wanted to save money by not treating the roads, and caused many, many accidents! In this area, they usually pre-treat the roads, but not this time! It took us 6 hours to make a 2 hour trip. Total nonsense, and the DOT needs to be investigated over this!
peopole here iun tn don't need snow to drive crazy
people here in tn don't need snow to drive crazy