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Subscribe to RSSThe large storm system that created dangerous road conditions and white-outs in the Midwest is moving out of the Northeast. Cold air is on the way, however, bringing lake-effect snow across southwestern New York. Weather Channel meteorologist Chris Warren reports.
Updated 11:45 p.m ET: Holiday travelers across the country were feeling the effects of the first big storm of the season, with hundreds of flights canceled and thousands delayed Friday — many disrupted by the ripple effects of stormy conditions in the Northeast and Midwest.
The winter storm was moving across the Buffalo, N.Y. region on Friday night, with gusty winds, snow, blowing and drifting snow slowing traffic. The storm was expected to travel across northern Pennsylvania by Saturday afternoon, NBC affiliate WGRZ reported.
Across the country, nearly 700 flights had been canceled and 9,300 delayed by late Friday afternoon, according to FlightStats.com. The majority were in storm-impacted cities like Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Newark, New York and Philadelphia.
Delays of an hour or more were reported at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey and La Guardia Airport in New York.
The combination of low clouds, rain and hing wind gusts disrupted major Northeast airports. Those delays could continue into Saturday, when the tail end of the system is expected to leave a few more inches of snow in Pittsburgh and western New York.
Full storm coverage at Weather.com
At Chicago's O'Hare airport, travelers who spent Thursday night there included Patricia Oliver, who called her attempt to get from California to Waterloo, Iowa, "a nightmare."
"They keep pushing us and bumping us and booting us back," she told NBCChicago.com. "We slept two nights on the floor."
Airlines on Thursday canceled more than 1,000 flights as the storm dumped up to 20 inches of snow across parts of the Midwest, caused blizzard conditions that led to seven deaths and even spawned a twister in Mobile, Ala., that damaged property.
Much of the Midwest is digging out after the first major snowstorm of the season dumped more than a foot of snow in some areas. Meanwhile, cancellations and delays are causing problems for travelers heading home for the holiday. NBC's John Yang reports.
In Iowa, two people were killed and seven injured Thursday in a 30-vehicle pileup on Interstate 35. Drivers were blinded by blowing snow and didn't see vehicles that had slowed or stopped, causing a chain reaction of crashes, state police said.
The storm was blamed for traffic deaths in three other states: two deaths each in Nebraska and Wisconsin; and one in Kansas.
In Utah, a woman who tried to walk for help after her car became stuck in snow died Tuesday night.
Power outages caused by the storm continued Friday. More than 320,000 homes and businesses were without power in the eastern half of the U.S. The hardest hit states were Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Wisconsin.
Outages that started Thursday also remained in Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska and Texas.
Although the storm has become largely a wind and rain event for much of the Northeast, the snow belts around the Great Lakes and Appalachians on Friday are likely to continue to see wind-whipped snow that could top a foot in many areas, Weather.com reported.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
AAA predicts 93 million Americans will be traveling 50 miles or more this holiday weekend, and as a massive winter storm rolls across the mid-section of the country, travelers are concerned about delays that may affect the weekend. NBC's Tom Costello reports.
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- Church bells toll 26 times to honor Newtown victims
- Thousands of flights disrupted as storm hits Northeast
- 'Sandy Claus' hands out toys to kids in storm-hit areas
- Escaped robber who rappelled 20 stories is caught
- Nabbed: One of US Marshals' 15 most wanted captured in Florida
- Video: Scammers prey on Newtown families
Leave a Comment:
everybody be extra careful driving etc...be safe and not stupid...
safe? ...well ok if i gotta....here hold my beer.
If more people just drove SUVs we wouldn't have to deal with all this cold weather.
It should be noted that the price of fuel is down about 50 cents per gallon since one month before our last Presidential election, which makes me wonder if one or both of our major political parties wasn't forcing those of us who drive and who buy anything hauled by barge, plane, train, or truck to help pay for their Presidential and control of power aspirations too?
Afternoon Neighbor!
"here hold my beer"
Watch this sh!t. Weeeeeeeeee
(snicker)
Hey Tyler! Sally!
There is reason 4 U 2 B here & don't spoil my fun; I haven't sang the Peanut Butter Jelly song in a while..............
;-)
Most people wanted a white Christmas, and they got it. Yes, drive smart, not stupid. But that is probably asking too much of some people.
sallyann nobody wants to drive in adverse weather-conditions but if they have places to be then they'll take the 2% chance that they get in an accident if they drive 60 mph on the freeway rather than going 20km/ph like you and the other grandmas on the road who don't have to be anywhere until the 29th so think nothing of blocking the fast lane and ruining everyone elses day. If you worry about the weather so much than just get snow tires you money-grubber and if you refuse to do that and still want to drive pelase wait until those of us who actually have pleaces to be have reached our destinations please.
LitterHater, you made several false assumptions there slick. I can't be a grandmother, as I haven't had any children yet. Second, the only time I drive 20mph is if the speed zone is set at 20. And I use the fast lane for passing idiots like you that are in front of me in the right hand lane, and shooting their mouths off.
And what makes you think I have to drive on any hwys to get where I'm going? Like I said, you made an a$$ out of yourself with your stupid assumptions. But anyway, Merry Christmas to you.
hey litterhater, since you think it's ok to do 60 and take a 2% chance of an accident, how about if the other person suffers for it? That may be one of the dumbest posts of all time.
The worst thing about driving in snow storms and their aftermath is that there are two kinds of horrible drivers. There are the ones that are overly cautious, sure, but there are also the ones that drive as if the roads are in great shape. They both cause accidents, but I guess I would rather get in a fender bender with the overly cautious driver than get plowed into by the foolish driver (no matter how frustrating the cautious driver is!).
At 2 AM I was woken up to the wind howling and a shutter bumping against the house. It sounded like when Sandy hit.I thought either we got a surprise storm, or the Mayans were right. LOL. Now I need sleep.
Same here. I thought maybe I missed the memo, but it was suppose to be sunny/clear today.
I had to drive 27 miles to South Plainfield this morning. The wind was horrible and the rain did not make it any better. Driving is the same in NJ regardless if it is a rainy day, snowing or sunshine...Garden State Parkway drivers have no skills. Many of these people should not be on the roads if they cannot operate a vehicle under extreme conditions. They are an accident waiting to happen.
I would love a great snowstorm, however NJ does not like to spend money to prepare for these kinds of storms. They always waiting until the middle of the storm in rush hour after many accidents have already occured. I think they are in cahoots with the Insurance Companies around the state. I grew up in NH, snowfall is no different there just a longer season of it. Yet with the abundance of snow they always seem to keep the highways free and clear. I just want snow in NJ to cover up the garbage along the road ways and highways. Welcome to the Garbage State...I mean, Garden State!! Actually they should call it the Eggplant State since they grow 2/3rds of the world's eggplant.
Nah - I think the "Armpit of America" is sufficient. Never been to a place in New Jersey that I liked. My least favorite place on planet Earth is Newark, NJ. And to be more specific, my least favorite place in Newark is the Airport Econo Lodge, a little slice of hell that made the top ten dirtiest hotels in America on Tripadvisor.
Unrelated, I would make a minor obsevation about this story - the expression "lashed" is such an overused cliche when it comes to describing the impact of a storm.
If NJ is so nasty I'm sure NH would love to have you back...maybe you could pick up some ADHD meds too...rain/snow/garbage/eggplant...talk about all over the place!
will
as a road warrior i can name thousands of motels like that, why disparage any ones home state? what Utopian place do you live BTW? care to elaborate?
What part of Airport Econo Lodge did you think meant it rivaled a Ritz Carlton or the W? You get what you pay for. I would think it quite ignorant to judge a whole state based on one of its poorer, albeit improving, areas. I live in a beautiful town in NJ, and resent your generalization. It would be like judging all of PA on the rough parts of Philly, or all of MI on Detroit. The jokes citing "armpit of America" are tired.
Julles - I emphatically agree. If you hate it, don't live here. These are certainly the people that give NJ the bad reputation anyway, conveying their misery and negativity when speaking about any subjects. I have never seen someone get so negative about being a top producer of eggplants.
Will, I remember when my son got out of basic training and was given his first orders. My ex called me and told me that he was being stationed in the Armpit of the world. My first response was "Jersey?"
I'm in MA and I'm seeing the heavy wind and rain coming through. Just be careful out there folks.
What is it about the Weather forecasters these days? Every Flurry is the next ice age. Every shower the next flood waters.
Merry Christmas all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Remember to pray for those who are away from home serving their country this holiday season. For those in CT who are suffering one of the greatest losses imaginable, the loss of a child. God Bless.
And for those of you who are offended by the blessing..
GOD BLESS US, EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jullieann the new jersey highway system is a little bit more complex/ extensive than hickville U.S.A.s so I think you should havea little bit of understanding when it comes to how difficult clearing off three feet of snow is from the garden state parkway, the jerrsey turnpike, etc.. If you're really that upsert about it though then go and buy snow tires or a car with four-wheel drive and then the minor amount of snow that falls before the highway authority has a chance to get to it won't inconvenience you so much. also stop tailgatting people who are already going ten miles over the speed limit please because you're no doubt one of those types too.
I agree with Scooter. If you decided to visit and stay by a ghetto, then that's your problem. I live in a nice quiet neighborhood not far from the shore and love it here. If you don't like it, get out. I'm certainly not gonna miss you. LOL
Julles50, I agree. She's all over the place in a never ending nag and complaint. Guess society and NJ is guilty for giving her a bad life.. lol
maybe if you invested some money into the trenton school-systems rather than letting it be a place where young minds go to die than she wouldn't have to complain but since she was born to two alcoholic welfare-line workers who obviosuly didn't care anything about her education she was forced to go there and look what happened. I'm surprised that she even has the intelligence to type nbsnews.com into the internet explorer and post here, i once saw a drop-out from trenton's school-system using a melted snickers-bar as sunscreen even though it was a relatively over-cast day so I'd say that she's a new jerrsey success story based on her ability to read alone.
LitterHater, what in the world are you whining about? Pick on Trenton all you want, NJ still consistently ranks in having some of the best educational systems in the country, as well as some of the most highly educated residents. You can google that for accuracy if you'd like.
Besides, if she had typed nbsnews.com, she would probably not have ended up here at nbcnews.com. If your school system was so wonderful, you would have correctly spelled at least 50% of the words you used.
I also call bluff on your Snickers story.
sj5s you can believe what you want but I even got a picture of it afterwards on a disposable camera at my friend's apartment so if you really need proff I'll develop it after we use the last few exposures and then post it to your idiot facebook wall okay tough guy. And if your school systems are so wonderful then why are your crime and unemployment rates above the national average (9.8% for the second one and you own camden for the first). And i dont care how many words i spell right or not on this news website you still know wtf i mean and still cant dispute it which is why you're getting so self-righteous angry and frustrated that you live in a hellwhole and will probably get murdered when you go out to pick up the morning paper which probably already got stolen from the end of your drive-way you inconsiderate tool-bag.
I am inconsiderate, not you? I find that to be laughable considering you just advised me of my impending murder. I also do not see your correlation between education and unemployment. I feel as though you are just throwing negative NJ statistics out to prove a point, however your point is lost with me.
Will-1091847
Next time that you're stuck overnight at Newark Airport, might I suggest riding the train into Penn Station and staying at the Candlewood Suites on 39th St and 9th Ave for $99/night, which is a whole lot nicer hotel and pretty reasonable by NYC standards too!
The biggest killer in snowstorms is wind. One poor lady walked a mile from her vehicle and died. She was found partically buried in snow as she tried to walk for help. Stay in your vehicle, always carry some extra gear, and maybe a red rag to tie on your car if you are stranded. Never leave the car in a storm that is your shelter and you have a better chance of staying alive.
True Joe. THe title of this article starts with Storm Lashes Northeast with a picture of cars buried in snow. Then you read the fine print and realize the the snow is out west. All we're getting in the east is rain.
People don't realize how dangerous getting out of a car during a storm can be. Keep a blanket, some water, energy bars, etc in your car. Especially this time of year. You never know. That idea of the red rag is a good idea. Even if the snow blows over your car rescue vehicles will realize there is a car buried under there.
Be safe Folks. Take care.
Have a safe and happy holiday.
janine...that rain went to snow yesterday the fastest i have ever seen...be careful. only got about 6 inches ( of snow ) here but 30 miles west of from here in Iowa city they got a foot, without the drifting. (Our cats first winter and he is use to going out, he's freaking.)
"only got about 6 inches ( of snow )"
(snicker)
hahahah Scooter, I love watching pets experiencing their first snow. They are a trip to watch.
Well,,,the wind is still blowing here somewhat, but the sun is shining and rain has cleared out.
Have a safe and Happy Holiday all.
Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Am I wrong or is litterhater, who can't spell the simplest of words, knocking someone elses school system?
I loved living in New Jersey, Cherry Hill to be exact about 10 minutes from Philadelphia about 10 years ago. If those of you "dislike & can't stand living there"? Then get out of the state & move!! I am sick & tired of people trashing N.J. when clearly those miserable trash-talking folk make their own lives & perception of thier own shortcomings in not being capable of living the standards of the state & taxes & would rather cry about it & let it be known to others & feel it's necessary to speak in the ways their worthless lives have lead them....Bye! Don't let your forclosed home door hit ya, where the good LORD split ya! It's no~ones fault but those stupid folk that clearly have no idea in living a simple life! Xo
It's almost Christmas and it is snowing. Surprised? Stay home and shop online.
Can't. Boss said if everyone comes in today, we get Monday off. So I dragged myself in.
Gm...Tf
your boss sounds like a real jerk. hope everyone gets in and home ok. if not he should get the bill for ANY and all employee accidents.
if you're so offended scooter why don't you write a letter to the museum telling the curator to either let the employees have the day off from giving inaccurate tours or you'll go in there and steal the trapezious bone from a stegorsauraus. Most people have to work on december 21st, why do you think that that is so offensive? You do want the economy to recover right?
Scooter, Hater believes I work at a Dinosaur store and brings it up often. Just to shed light on WTF he means.. lol
i generally don't bother to read his rants TF. he only gets on to try to belittle others. those types simply are not worthy of my time.
Bottom line around here when the local weather report recommends no travel the cops back it. then in most cases people stay over or whatever if it absolutely has to be done. ie; power crews. etc. if the local jiffy mart, caseys or whatnot has to close...so be it.
With flights booked to near capacity this really creates problems. Hopefully nobody has to spend their Christmas holiday entirely in an airport.
Why does the meda always act like this is something extraordinary? Bad weather patterns have existed since the beginning of time. People used to be smart and stay out of it, unless asolutely necessary. But now we think some of the most trivial things are "absolutely necessary."
but-but-but liz...i done ran out of slim jims, and my cell phone charger quit.........it WAS an emergency as you can plainly see.
wow elizabeth you are a complete invallid, why don’t you read the f'ing story before complaining about the headline. Five people have died in this sotrm you insesitive idiot so yeah I think that it's pretty important to warn others in the storm's path about just how dangerous the coniditionsa re going to be in a short while. Why don't you just go steal some more money from your grandparents to buy more mascara you floosyy cause that's obviously the only thing that you'rte good at doing.
@LitterHater, why don't you do what is physically impossible and highly immoral? That way you wouldn't be interupting the adults here. Dumb a$$ kid, probably dropped on his head when he was born.
LitterHater, you sure have issues, trying to live up to that name a bit much.
Afternoon Reddog.
This is actually Octomom telling us what she really thinks of her brood.
(yes, that's sarcasm)
blew through here yesterday...50 mph winds as well....good luck east coast. but hey its winter.
Hi Scooter
Here in the Caribbean it is a lovely 90 o F with a delightful 15 mph breeze off the water! Aaaahhhh, pretty soon it is Boat Drink time! Perhaps today will be White Cosmos to celebrate the snowstorms y'all have gotten! The sun is over the yard-arm somewhere and the world is still here!
It's winter here too! LOL Bwaaa, aahhah.
Jack, I could be reading that wrong, but I swear that could be cosidered "rubbing it in"..
lol
keep it up jack...remember i know where you live......course you know where i live as well, but the odds of anyone with intelligence heading north this time of year are about as long as anyone getting a tax rebate this year.
Hi TFNJ Hi Scooter
Absolutely - as in sunscreen and a cool, cool, cool drink of rum and fruit juice with a lil' umbrella in it! Yeah, life is hell in paradise; but somebody has to be bold and do it - for the rest of y'all!
I do! Who said dat? LOL bwaaaahhahwahha
I can apply sun screen too. But first I have to remove 2 sweaters and a coat then hope there is enough sun peaking through those storm clouds to catch a tan.
TFNJ
Sure hope you don't catch pneumonia doing that - many years ago during a New Years Eve party, in 2 feet of snow this girl asked me to.... wait, I can't print that part - however, I did catch pneumonia and still got to ring in the New Year very lucky..., so to speak! LOL
Oh yeah, well I got my own warm weather story where I landed on a nest of ticks and spent the rest of the afternoon asking her to help me check for ticks.
I live in Phoenix, AZ. High of 71 today. Moved from Wisconsin in 1986. You all have a great holiday. Stay warm!
yeah zsurely that sounds like perfect weather for an illegal-immigrant to mug you in, have fun recovering in the hospital from your stab-wounds you richer.
Hey, know why the wind blows in California? Arizona sucks.
Hey, know why the wind blows in Arizona? That's right, California sucks.
As a resident of California I agree it does suck but I did go to the beach in November. Although I am starting to get annoyed that the lows have been in the upper 40s for the last week.
I didn't leave NH and enjoy a good lashing every now and then.......
Not even sure what this means, other than you admitting you are a sadomasochist.
honestly tfnj where are you getting that crap from? For all you know he could volunteer all of his spare time to increase awareness of juvilline diabities so wh cares what he and consenting partners do in the privacy of their dungeon? All he's saying is taht he likes when it snows a lot every once and a while and that doesn't make him a sexual-deviant it just makes him soneone who loves the winter-season so stop making such irresponbislie accusations or leave to do some more vitally important dinosaur stuff you sheep
Sorry
I'm not the one whose morality you’ve called into question, apologize to rick publicly or else you're no better than the domestic terrorists who live in my town.
sorry masochist
so go pick up some litter....hater............
Litterhater could never play in a sand box. The cats keep covering him up.
BATUMBOOM!
but he owns his own town.
woder why he doesnt clean it up?
BAZINGGA
Wow! LitterHater is still fighting with you? After reading some of his comments I realize he must be a troll and he just likes to follow you around for some reason and insult random people.
Scooter, TFNJ
Seems like a love hate relationship with "kitty" - Litter Hater - he is rather repugnant and wonder how often his master cleans the litter box for all his "pearls of wisdom"?
Perhaps he has a "bone" to pick with tfnj - a brontasaurus bone, perhaps?
I admit to bugging Litterhater when he replies to my posts, so he looks for that opportunity to get me back whenever possible. Unfortunately its been weeks and he is still without success. If you will notice, we added each other as friends so that he can find me whenever he feels he has a good line.
LOL
LOL!!
Yep. It snows in a lot of places in the WINTERTIME. So, make some ice cream. Sugar, Vanilla Extract, and Milk. Scoop up some fresh snow in a large bowl, add ingredients to taste.
If you really have a problem with no power, or other concern, why doesn't everyone get together with your neighbors, and everybody help each other like we used to do ? Still do where I live, but it appears a lot of people don't. Just help each other. I'm sure others would be grateful.
Plrase send me 20 euro for Christmas....
Thank you!!!
Pls send me 20 euro for Cristmas.......
Thank you!
i just sent your message to a local mosque there and they said they would be happy to..they have more then enough new euros to spare.
I like how stuff is only news once it affects the Northeast
Midwest. Linked right there from NBCNews homepage. http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/20/16030584-holiday-travel-alert-central-us-storm-brings-flight-disruptions-deadly-blizzard-and-a-tornado?lite&preview=true
well when its this kinda news i would have to tend to agree......problem is it tends to come here first.
hahahah Wildcat, I live in the Northeast and here it's not news unless it affects Boston.
I remember them forecasting snow and the weatherman said, "But it will hit south of Boston". As if no one lives south of Boston.
The location makes the news as much as the story itself.
Snow is pretty, but I'd take a sunny beach any day.
your right snow is beautiful...i hate to see you miss out so tell ya what i will trade ya for say i dunno...4 months?
Snow WAS beautiful, but over the years it's turned into an ugly hag.
Howdy, Scooter. I haven't seen you say anything lately that would make me want to get on your case ;-)
Merry Christmas, a few days in advance!
its just snow! Deal with it! Its not the end of the WORLD...GET IT (END OF THE WORLD) or maybe it is!
Y'all are missing out on the most significant part of today. No, not the misinterpretation of the Mayan calendar...It's the Winter Solstice! The days get longer from now until the 21st of June! That's worth celebrating even if it is snowing.
My daughter was supposed to fly home from Florida yesterday and got stranded in Atlanta. This was her first time traveling alone, and a first for flying. I want to send out a thank you to the man also going to kansas city and the young man in the military uniform who comforted a crying teen-adult and helped her to find help. And I would also love to send out a thank you to the airport security officer who paid for her ticket to go back to florida to be near family. You have no idea how much it means to me.
Now THAT's a comment in the holiday spirit!
Best wishes to you and your family, Mom.
Nice to see that the world isn't all that bad.
Let it snow, maybe o'bumbrain will be buried in in it.
Honestly? o'bumbrain? Does your mommy really allow you to use a computer unsupervised?
Winter. A time when it gets cold, snows and ices up. And people attempt to travel during this time. And then they act upset and puzzled when they aren't able to.
It's also a time to be with loved ones.
If anyone loved you, you might know how they feel. Poor you!
Every year people sleep on the airport floors during the holiday season due to winter weather and they complain about it.We have had severe drought this year and need the snow pack and precipitation.I'm sorry for those with delayed flights and those without electricity but this is after all winter.
Why only 26 acts? I thought there were 28 people killed in Newtown that day. To include the mentally ill perpetrator and his Mother, who may have struggled with his illness for years without much effective help, is a real positive act, and shows social maturity. So,should it not be "28 Acts"?