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Subscribe to RSSThe powerful storm made for dicey driving conditions in Iowa, causing a 25-car pileup. In Wisconsin, the governor declared a state of emergency. And in the South, several tornadoes spawned from the same weather system. NBC's Kevin Tibbles reports.
The first major wintry storm of the season hammered the Midwest on Thursday, causing a pileup in blizzard conditions that killed three people, dumping a foot of snow in some areas and creating travel problems during one of the busiest periods of the year. Those travel woes could extend into the Northeast, with high winds and rain expected there Friday.
Nearly 600 flights were canceled at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on Thursday, according to FlightStats, and an additional 700 were grounded at Kansas City International, Midway (Chicago), Detroit Metropolitan, Minneapolis-St. Paul International and other Midwest airports.
Southwest Airlines canceled all flights at Midway starting at 4:30 p.m. local time, NBCChicago.com reported.
Full coverage of the storm at The Weather Channel
The storm system also spawned a tornado that flipped vehicles in Mobile, Ala., and cut power to 400,000 homes and businesses. Some 130,000 were still without power Thursday afternoon.
At least six deaths were tied to the snowstorms: In Iowa, three people died Thursday in a pileup involving more than 30 vehicles on Interstate 35, NBC affiliate WHO-TV reported; in Wisconsin, slick road conditions led to two fatalities; and in Utah, a woman who tried to walk for help after her car became stuck in snow was found dead, officials said late Wednesday. Search and rescue crews on snowmobiles found her buried in the snow just a few miles from her car.
Snow, whipped by 50 mph wind gusts, have been causing white outs and leaving residents in the dark. The Weather Channel's Mike Seidel reports.
Blizzard or winter storm warnings were issued for 16 states on Thursday, Weather Channel meteorologist Mike Seidel told TODAY.
Northeast cities can expect rain and high winds from the system Friday morning, said NBC meteorologist Bill Karins. Most of the snow should move into Canada Friday night.
A foot of snow fell on Des Moines, Iowa, by early Thursday and residents across the state were urged to stay off the roads.
"Because of the wind, travel is pretty treacherous, especially into Iowa, as the storm moves east," National Weather Service meteorologist Scott Dergan said.
The snow cover will drag temperatures much lower in Iowa and Nebraska, he added. "We're talking single digits. We may even see some sub-zero temperatures in Nebraska. This cold weather will stick around for several days, maybe until the day after Christmas. So we're definitely going to have a white Christmas."
Iowa State Police
Some of the vehicles involved in a pileup on Interstate 35 in Iowa are seen Thursday.
Blowing snow led to school closures in parts of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. All state government offices also closed in Iowa. Storms in those four states left around 130,000 homes without power.
"Thundersnow" was reported in Iowa Wednesday night, as thunder and lightning accompanied the storm as it trekked across the state.
Dietra Tate / NBC 15
This vehicle at a car dealership was flipped over by a storm in Mobile, Ala., on Thursday, Dec. 20.
In Alabama, a tornado peeled the roofs off homes and buildings and toppled vehicles in Mobile, but caused no serious injuries, Al.com reported. Arkansas also saw damage from high winds.
The storm system earlier delivered heavy snow and strong winds to parts of the West, where trucks tangled on icy roads on the Oregon and California state line.
Snowstorm prompts state of emergency in Wisconsin
In West Texas, winds from the same system kicked up a dust storm Wednesday that caused accidents along Interstate 27, resulting in one death and more than a dozen injuries, NBC affiliate KCBD reported.
At Dallas-Fort Worth airport, American Airlines said it canceled about 120 flights Wednesday night due to the storm.
In Nebraska, snow blowing sideways on Wednesday night forced the closure of a 146-mile stretch of Interstate 80, a major east-west highway.
Much of the nation is dealing with a big blast of winter as a massive snowstorm barrels from the Rockies to the Midwest, with some parts of Colorado buried under more than a foot of snow. NBC's Mike Seidel reports.
In Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker declared a state of emergency on Wednesday. Schools were canceled in advance of heavy snowfall and the University of Wisconsin-Madison postponed Thursday’s final exams.
Before the storm, several Midwest cities had broken records for the number of consecutive days without measurable snow.
In Chicago, people made a run on snow shovels and salt ahead of what should be the first snow to hit the city in 290 days (the record is 296).
The storm has package delivery companies nervously checking the weather forecast during this busy time of year. "We’re closely monitoring the storm," FedEx spokesman Scott Fiedler told NBC News. "We have a team of 15 meteorologists who track the weather around the world every day."
Related: UPS, FedEx weather experts work on timely deliveries
Related: Chicago braces for 'thundersnow'
Related: Bad in US? Try Russia, where some parts as low as 50 below
Related: Slideshow of wintry scenes around the world
Along the East Coast, the I-95 corridor isn't expected to see much, if any, snow.
"Snow may make it as close to New York City as Western Connecticut but right now, other than a few flurries Friday night, I think New York City through Boston will be mostly snow-free," Tom Niziol, the winter weather expert at The Weather Channel, told NBC News.
"Areas to the southeast of the Great Lakes, from Cleveland through Syracuse will get heavier snowfall," he added. "Higher elevations from the Adirondacks through the western slopes of the Central Appalachians will also get snow."
NBC News' Isolde Raftery and A. Pawlowski, as well as The Associated Press and Reuters, contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
I live in a mountian valley in Colorado. On the news this morning they had us at -37° F (that is with windchill). When I got in my car to go to work, I had -20° F (without windchill). Anyway you slice it, it is stinkin cold!
Snow is pretty.
B E A U T I F U L . . . funny how an un-happy work-force isn't the most productive work-force. . .
In Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker declared a state of emergency on Wednesday... in advance of heavy snowfall
after the republicans bought your re-call election with their super pacs . . . . comes a snow storm ......
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Vegas is giving 3 to 1 that the President will stop by on the Presidential snowmobile to take pics with the Governors and promise to do everything necessary to take care of the snow problem before he leaves for Hawaii.
I don't like snow.... shoveling. :-)
It's the beginning of the Christmas travel season so of course there is severe weather. It comes with the territory, it is winter.
Nice and unseasonable warm here in a blue state...must be Mother Nature punishing you red states.
Just keep burning that natural gas--turn up the heat---get the surplus down! $$$
In Kansas City Mo. We had sleet last night and know we have snow.It is very slick out there.And we had hell to and it was brown hell what would cause hell to look brown?
It's dust blown up from 60 mph winds in Arizona. They had a massive dust storm. In Oklahoma it's possible to rain red mud--really! cars will be covered with muddy rain drops
It's called HAIL not hell.
Or if your'e a Republican--Hiel
First major wintry blast of the season?
I guess our 16" of snow 2 weeks ago didn't count as major since it occurred in MN
We've had 14 inches in the last 18 hours here in Northern Idaho also. Still, all my neighbors went to work, some driving 50 miles to Spokane, and the School bus was on time to pick up the kids.
I guess it isn't news if you live where it snows in the Winter and don't have a bunch of people who seemed surprised when it does.
I think I'll head up to Schweitzer Basin today and ski some of the new powder.
Global warming is real people!!! The only reason its snowing now is because the Illuminati are controlling the weather with the Harp system in Alaska.
A dumber comment than that made by some Chicagoan name of Cozallo is a direct challenge to GOD, and I wouldn't be surprised if HE doesn't respond to get yer attention there dumbo! Like Bush and his idiot Cabinet and Family making statements like that got U.S. into the endless War, tanked our economy and destroyed what little credibility the Nation ever had overseas and within her own borders with people who were once willing to die to defend her! Bring it on, indeed! ARE YOU FRIGGIN CRAZY???
wow it is true.... you have no clue. 4 more years... Bush x 10=?
Why should there be a run on snow shovels every time it snows? What do people do with them? Throw them away after one use? I can see a run on the essentials whites - bread, milk, eggs and toilet paper - but snow shovels? This is one thing I just don't get. We have a snow shovel that is 20 years old and that is one thing we don't need to run out and buy every time someone predicts snow.
Agreed. Though I never bothered with doing a run on the whites either just because of a storm when I lived in Michigan. We just drove in it and the stores usually kept normal hours in it. Even schools stayed open except in blizzard conditions or snow over 1 foot or ice. So we just went out for food if needed. Otherwise, we treated it like any other day. The nice thing about cold weather... if the power goes out, just stick everything from your fridge and freezer into a snow drift. Instant fridge.
Must be God's will.
Once again the sky is falling and we're all going to die. That picture of the wet road in Colorado speaks volumes about people who "work" indoors, briefly poke their heads out so as to alarm and possibly capture the audiences attention then guess what? Details on the storm later now let's sell you some useless crap.
Something needs to be done. I know. let's tax our businesses to DEATH, and that will fix the climate. At least that's what the IDIOTS who have been indcotrniated in the global frauding will tell you.
Everyone see the study from 3 weeks ago? No global warming for the last 16 years with a trend to global temperature decline? Yeah, but Obamugabe just announced that globa warming is one of his biggest topics this term. He just can't crush our economy fast enough.
indcotrniate
Gawd, it's hilarious when people on here try to spell big words phonetically!! LMAO
We have 18 hours left oh no! http: // www . timeanddate . com/ countdown / maya (take out spaces) Looks like the end outside very surreal out in the country although no snow yet just really windy and very overcast with sprinkles, Central IL here, :)
Dang global warming. I thought that just caused hurricanes and meteor showers!
Meteor showers? Ok....
Global warming causes an increase in storms of all types, both in number and severity. I still say that it's mostly being caused by nature and not humans.
Did somone rip out your humor bone?
I like global warming. Why be cold?
I guess I missed the humor. Sorry. :)
Its ok, just having stupid humor day before venturing out. :-)
hi mind telling us what states you stupid idiots!
ALSO TO THE MORONS WHO THINK LARGE SNOW STORMS ARENT PART OF GLOBAL WARMING READ A BOOK OR SOMETHING. learn about something before opening your big mouth becuase you sound really dumb! do people tell you that alot? do you get the finger a lot and eyerolls?? thats because you are ignorant.
@monie, well my grandfather, who was raised in ND, has stated more than once you haven't seen a large snow storm until it leaves about 8 ft on the ground. And they didn't even mention global way back then. In fact, it was it the 70's when they came out with global cooling.
Seems like monie, that you are ignorant.
Monie. I'll read a book on "global warming" if you will read a book on grammar.... and buy a dictionary. :-)
Global warming would mean a new beach resort in NE. That would be terrific!
gee thanks for sending me this via the link as well......anybody else get one?
oh and are you gritting your teeth and stomping your feet right now monie?
you post some playground third grade name calling drivel and people are going to pay attention? don't think so.
seek help....and have a nice day.....
"In Chicago, people were making a run on snow shovels"
With all the snow that Chitown gets every year, why were people making a run on snow shovels? What do they do with the ones they bought last year. With Chicago's typical weather, snow shovels should be as important as locks on doors. Sure glad I moved south.
hahahaah yes yes yes and im in california , i know what you mean
Once again the sky is falling and we're all going to die. That photo of the snarled traffic on the wet road in Colorado speaks volumes about people who "work" indoors, poke their heads out long enough to attempt to alarm and possibly capture the audience's attention to guess what? "Details later" now let's sell you some useless crap.
living in michigan as a kid, wow do i remember that 10 below weather . i grew up in los angeles california from a teenager and im still here. but the snow is so beautiful. i cant do cold anymore . im so callie and i love it. i will visit michigan. only in the spring when i can see the sidewalk . lol. happy holidays. midwest and east coast. i dont even own a wool coat. love you guy.
,
Don't drive in snow or on ice.
Stay home, play a game with your children, (not video).
Use the KISS method. Keep it simple, stupid!
Not everyone has the luxury to stay home. In the northern states, most businesses stay open in the snow and you're expected to come in to work unless it gets bad. The thing is that most people who live in those states know how to drive in it, so it's not a problem.
The doom and gloom of the drive-by media never fails to deliver. Good job NBC.
Dear Fellow Americans:
I spent many years on the road in all weather conditions. Got stranded a few times. Thankfully no accidents. In a bilzzard, I used to pull in behind a truck and let them lead the way. i was in no hurray as I knew when the meeting would be so i planned ahead. I rarely passed as often the left hand lane would freeze or narrow because of the snow. Now retired I sip my coffee type a few blogs and wish all a safe Merry Christmas