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Subscribe to RSSA large part of the country didn't have to dream of a white Christmas. It got one. Mike Seidel of The Weather Channel reports.
A major winter storm pummeled large parts of the U.S. on Tuesday, killing two people as it dropped heavy snow on the Southern Plains and spinning off damaging winds and tornadoes in warmer areas southward. A state of emergency was declared in Mississippi.
Treacherous holiday travel was expected to become even more of an ordeal by the time the storm arrives in the Northeast later this week.
A weather map of the U.S. looked like a child's coloring book, with a variety of advisories, watches and warnings spreading across the middle and the southern half of the country:
- Blizzard warnings were in force for parts of Indiana, Texas and Oklahoma. Two people were killed Tuesday when high winds toppled trees in Tomball, Texas, near Houston, and in Richland Parish, La., while 21 cars and tractor-trailers crashed in a massive pileup on roads coated with freezing rain in Oklahoma City.
- Winter storm warnings stretched from those states north and east to Arkansas and Ohio. Almost 150,000 customers were without power late Tuesday across Arkansas, Entergy Arkansas said.
- At least 31 tornadoes were believed to have been spotted across the South from Texas to Alabama, the National Weather Service reported. Numerous tornado-related injuries were reported in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, but, remarkably, none of them were believed to be serious, according to preliminary reports.
View more videos at: http://nbcdfw.com.
Hundreds more flights canceled as Christmas storm moves east
The worst of the tornadoes hit Tuesday afternoon in Mobile, Ala., where about 21,500 customers remained without power Tuesday night, Alabama Power said.
Witnesses report significant storm damage in Mobile, Alabama. WPMI's John Dzenitis reports.
"The people of Alabama are strong," state governor Robert Bentley said in a statement released by his office. "We will recover together. First responders are doing a tremendous job helping people in areas impacted by the storms, and those efforts will continue."
The statement added: "I also want to offer my prayers for everyone impacted by these storms. We will work on the state level to do everything we can to help communities across the state."
Rick Cauley's family was hosting relatives for Christmas when the tornado sirens went off in Mobile. Not taking any chances, he and his wife, Ashley, hustled everyone down the block to take shelter at the athletic field house at Mobile's Murphy High School in Mobile.
It turns out, that wasn't the place to head.
"As luck would have it, that's where the tornado hit," Cauley told The Associated Press. "The pressure dropped and the ears started popping and it got crazy for a second." They were all fine, though the school was damaged, as were a church and several homes, but officials say no one was seriously injured.
Mike Kittrell / AP
Firefighters go door-to-door on North Carlen Street in the Midtown section of Mobile, Ala., after a tornado touched down Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012.
Suspected tornadoes also damaged homes and other structures Tuesday in or near Centreville, McNeill, Maxie and Janice in Mississippi; and in or near Luverne, Wilmer and Riderwood in Alabama, according to The Weather Channel.
A state of emergency was declared in Mississippi late Tuesday by governor Phil Bryant, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency told NBC News in a statement. Homes, roads and businesses were damaged in at least nine counties.
Gov. Phil Bryant declared a State of Emergency today for the severe weather system that affected parts of the... fb.me/1LV7QLbJR
— MSEMA (@MSEMA) December 26, 2012
Greg Forbes, a meteorologist with The Weather Channel, said thunderstorms with damaging winds and hail would make their way across the Deep South into Wednesday.
By the time it leaves the New England coast Friday, the storm will have left snow from coast to coast.
The National Weather Service said blizzard conditions were possible in parts of Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky, which could get 4 to 7 inches of snow. Whiteout conditions were forecast for stretches of Interstate 44 in Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas into the evening.
Ten to 15 inches of snow was expected in parts of Indiana. In Indianapolis, Mayor Greg Ballard ordered "non-essential" workers to stay home Wednesday.
With more than 93.3 million people expected to take to the road during the holiday season, according to AAA, many travelers made last-minute changes of plans and decided to hit the road before the snow hit.
"You definitely have to worry about everyone while you're driving, especially out here," Dallas resident Jerdal Whitaker told NBC 5 of Dallas. "We're not used to the weather that comes, especially when it's ugly, so you definitely have to drive slow."
Travel delays could persist into Thursday morning along the East Coast because of "low clouds, wind, and potential changeover to light snow," The Weather Channel reported.
More than 500 U.S. flights had been canceled by 11 p.m. ET, the travel site flightaware.com reported. Many of them were into and out of Dallas, where as much as 3 inches of snow fell Tuesday, NBC 5 of Dallas reported.
NBCDFW.com: White Christmas brings delays, cancellations to DFW airport
A low-pressure system intensified as it moved across the Southern Plains toward the Lower Mississippi Valley on Tuesday. That sucked in arctic air from the north and the west to mix with warmer, wetter air in the southern half of the country, the National Weather Service said.
The system is forecast to track east-northeast, getting stronger by the hour, as it moves into the Mid-Atlantic. From there, snow and freezing rain are expected to spread quickly northeast, reaching New England by Thursday morning. As much as a foot of snow was forecast later in the week across western and upstate New York.
Ioanna Dafermou and Meredith Placko of NBC News, Jim Cantore, Greg Forbes and Scott Kurtz of The Weather Channel and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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No comment. I think I might be safe.
Merry Christmas Mary....i know i'm safe..........
Merry Christmas Tramp. I just don't want to get pounded today. Hope you have a great Christmas.
ya had a tough one yesterday for sure. we all have em.
I better learn to keep my mouth shut and go with the flow. NAAAAAAA!!
naaa is right
Hey guys, hard to believe maybe, but many thousands of people bellieve these are manipulated storms. Have you ever heard the term "chem trails" ? No, well if you have facebook, put in the search theweatherspace.com , you will see testimony about chem trails. AT this point chem trails are laid out in grid like patterns, then HAARP blasts them for various purposes. HAARP has been full blast this past week. People are experiencing head aches and many other things. I advise this blog moderator to maybe look into this. There is much information,documented proof, videos, photos and more. Another helpful informative location, is on f.b. globalskywatch please feel free to research this for yourself. NO conspiracy theorists there, have a look. Or, onthe next sunny day you get, simly look up! You will see the white line clouds going from horizon to horizon. You will see and or hear the dispersal planes high above the clouds. Good luck, and hang onto your hats Sheeples! LoL
Hey meow, did you receive a new tinfoil hat for christmas? It seems to work.
Thank God for global warming. This could have been really bad!
Isn't it suppose to snow on Christmas? I don't mean some little fluffy stuff, I mean snow - buried in, can't go anywhere (except for Santa) snow. That happened several years ago where I lived. All the neighbors, who were suppose to go somewhere but couldn't, or were suppose to family and friends, couldn't. So we all pulled our stuff together, met in one of the neighbor's house, and cooked up a full Christmas meal from the suppose-to-bring this-already-had-that trimmings for a full course turkey dinner. The neighbors hosted over 50 people and everyone had a blast as the snow raged outside. Because everyone already had something, no one person was responsible and could relax. The kids played in the basement rec-room, the adults enjoyed Christmas spirits (and not the ones from A Christmas Carol). And we ate our full. Neighbors who barely knew each other got to know each other. It was one of the best Christmas' I ever had. Two years later, when it was 60 degrees outside and the kids could play in the backyard, we repeated it because it was so wonderful.
Mary, IAScootertramp; you guys stay safe and have a Merry Little Christmas & A Happy New Year.
!
Meowski,
I know 3-4 letter words are a lot to handle and can easily confuse you. It's contrail not chemtrail.
Meowski
Did you know those so called "chem trails" have been produced since aircraft have been flying in the high atmosphere? They were produced in the mid 40's.
@
I think this is God's way of punishing the South for being a bunch of gun-toting, racist, sexist, homophobic bigots who seek to impose their radical brand of Christianity upon the entire nation, turning this once great secular republic into a fundaMENTAList Christian theocracy. It is also further evidence that we are experiencing global climate change, which the anti-science right (so entrenched in the South) denies.
There is no God Vince...stick to the talking points!
let it snow ...let it snow... let it snow...
News alert----snow in December. Man, what will happen if it rains in the spring, or leaves falling off of trees in autumn? All weather can be dangerous. Life can be dangerous.
WOW Vince, SNOW in WINTER. My God, how can it be? How old are you? Remember the 70's? The 80's? How about the ice storms in the 90's? By the way, it was global cooling being taught in the 80's at our public schools when I was a kid. We were also supposed to run out of gas by 2000 and face a global ice age. Hmmmmm.
Merry Christmas all. Even for knee jerk libs who think they evolved from pond scum....considering the IQ of some of the posts, they may have a point. Science has of yet to examine the greater intelligence of either pond scum or liberal though. Neat study it would be indeed, bet the pond scum comes out on top.
We certainly need the precip - particularly in many of these drought-ridden areas. So stay safe people.
Bring it on.
In nòmine Patris, et Fìlii, et Spìritus Sancti@elcidharth.com
Merry Cristmas
I had to cancel my midnight mass as it was a blowing snow night and streets were frozen solid. Moreover, there was a parking problem in downtown, that means parking in city garages and walking three blocks with my dress shoes. I hope God forgives me and all those who found it impossible to be pious, under the circumstances, especially the senior citizens.
...and I am Sid Harth@elcidharth.com
don't know about -god but i forgive ya . i am certain -god will as well...providing of course you have a note from your priest.
Merry Christmas sid.
I talked to god Sid and he said it was OK. But he said don't let it happen again!!
The NRA must be thankful that the weather is making front page today. America seems to be taking a nice break from the recent spate of shootings.
maybe they should make Laws against the Weather, since hundreds die from it every year as well....
nope not going there this morning, no matter how stupid and off subject people are willing to go.
Merry Christmas Al.
I'm with you on this one Tramp. Now is not the time or place for off subjects like those.
Thank you Santa for the IGNORE feature. I use it often when commenters are stuck on repetitive stupid.
Merry Christmas Al. We hope you have a wonderful day.
they been blathering about this for days....so far not so much as a ....skiff... ( thanks max)....be careful out there and Merry Christmas all.
Just more rain here, about 40 degress. Everyone please have a Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas Sally
10 degrees here. not necessarily a bad thing because that cold front is pushing the snow south....at least for now.
Merry Christmas Scooter, need I say the temps here are about 80o F higher? Getting ready to put the ham in the oven and sip on some coconut rum with fruit juice, while the ham bastes in Dijon, honey, brown sugar and pineapple concoction - with a touch of Frangelica Hazelnut liqueur
GM Jack and Merry Christmas
the boss is out of town at her daughters seeing her grand-kids so i am making what i call "bachelors chow"...
Here in south west Florida it's 72 and partly sunny. So glad I left the great white north for Gods waiting room. People are still going to run into your car but not on ice.
It is in the low 50's in Central California with some fog this morning but am glad not to anywhere near snow.We've had rain and expecting more of it which we desperately need. Merry Christmas to all.
I need to get my cockles warmed. It was -3F in Minneapolis this morning. MMMMerry CCCChristmas, all...
Looks like another Garbage Motors Failure
Plan on ending off the road with GM engineering
How come Mike Sidel can't be home for Christmas ? Where ever hes at its bad weather and accidents.
Now remember greenie envirowacko's. This is called ...weather. Can you say w...e...a...t...h...e...r. It happens.
We have a 100% chance of weather today here in Minnesota.
coupled with a 100% chance of darkness tonight....you poor poor folks, how do you cope with it all?....
Love it!
I heard that the horror of the sun may shine and blind motorists while driving. The horrors of it all!
I'll bet the new snow has created many, many beautiful wintry scenes today for people to enjoy. The trees in Washington State have been absolutely gorgeous with the build up of hoar frost and snow. Merry Christmas.
hoar frost?...... jacks sister?.........( just kidding )
Peace on earth and good will toward men isn't just for one day,today,but for everyday,all year round,and for every year thereafter.Wars make widows and orphans of children,and even kill children,and Jesus says if you do it to one of the little children you do it to me.Remember,Media glorifies wars,every country's Media does it. Jesus criticized the religious leaders of his day as turning as many away from God as they do to God.Man takes God's power of life or death as in wars and turns as many away from God as to God,even when he kills many to save many,when the Bible teaches that all life is precious and sacred to God,not just certain life,not just some life,but all life.
Every year the same dumb ass people in the same old cold snowy places,,bfd
Heres an idea,
Move to,a warmer climate,,lmao
Many people believe there is more to these freak storms than what i s currently being shared. IF you have f.b. search for . . globalskywatch, and HAARP status and theweatherspace groups. You will see evidence, photos, links, videos of what else many thousands believe is contributing to the monster storms that are coming out of no where. I just heard two jets fly over head here, hmm odd, heavy snow falling right now, interesting. A new announcment has been released please read up, see for yourself. It is published by wordltruthtv web site news article regarding two scientist the project they are about to begin.
Conspiracy? What about global climate change? Does anyone remember having to worry about tornadoes in December? My area has been getting less snow (and more armadillos) for about 20 years now - this is documented, not just a guy's fuzzy memories of childhood. I was able to go sledding and ice skating outdoors a lot as a kid, my own kids haven't had much of a chance. That being said, the human race will survive. Merry Christmas all!
Well put the foil hat back on and the jet noise should stop.
The Jets would be odd if they were not flying overhead, that is what they do.
Please get back on your medication.
MeowskiThe jets that we hear in California are from the Leemore naval airbase.The other planes are crop dusters.There is nobody making the weather except for Mother Nature.
So what is the mechanism of how all this works, Meowski? You know, the physics and chemistry of it. There is no valid evidence of whatever you are proposing...or else MSN and its wretched colleagues would be all over it...Congress would be demanding hearings, etc.
Indeed Meowski, Jesse Ventura has confirmed that HAARP is as real as pro-wrestling. Or perhaps it is wintertime, when snow may fall without the intervention of secret government agencies. I say, forget the conspiracy theories and let's enjoy this white Christmas.
Meowski
Did you know those so called "chem trails" have been produced since aircraft have been flying in the high atmosphere? They were produced in the mid 40's during WWII.
HAARP is an ionospheric research sounder. It operates in the HF range (3-30 MHz) same as shortwave broadcasters, amateur radio operators, and CBers. Almost all of the BS conspiracy nut ramblings about what it does and how it does it are not just wrong, they are laughably wrong.
High altitude aircraft such as airliners and military aircraft produce contrails under certain conditions of temperature and humidity. Nothing mysterious there either. They are just fine water droplets, same as any other cloud, except that they are thin and straight, like the flight paths of the aircraft which produce them.
There is their White Christmas.
I'm in L.A., all I can say is; "SUCKERS!" lol.
Dang snow nerds!
We have snow you have smog. I'd say we're even.
I'd take the snow....then again.....California micro brews and fine vineyards....a trip to the liquor store for more wares is needed!
Lots of HO!
Well it is Winter and it gets cold and snows. So why is everyone surprised? Summer is just around the corner.
hahahaha your right
i mention to my cousin who live in detroit michigan that our weather in los angeles was in the 50s she said wow thats a heat wave in detroit. lol
Flower3,I used to live in L.A. and it seems there were triple digit summers this year.The rain has been rearing it's ugly head.I'm in Central California and usually we have 10 degrees hotter or colder than L.A. On a good note,people in L.A. are far superior drivers to the Central Valley.Merry Christmas to you and yours in L.A.
Just got home from the Beach in Boca Grande FL. 84 degrees and beautiful. Merry Christmas
Meow, give it up, most people don't bother to look any further than msnbc. There are numerous web sites on chemtrails (yes Shady, that's CHEMtrails not CONtrails, i.e. chemical instead of condesation). Hot jet exhaust leaves a condesation trail which evaporates fairly quickly and closely behind a jet depending on the temperature. A chemtrail remains, widens out and falls which can be seen as streaks coming from the bottom of the trail. If anyone is interested just google chemtrails. But, I agree with tramp and say Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.
No, once again you are wrong, there are no such things as chemtrails. The hot exhaust temps would dissipate any chemicals in the contrails. The contrails will sometimes freeze into ice crystals which can persist for some time. Otherwise, the trails evaporate in a very short time.
Capt, Chaos
Have you had your brain analyzed and put in order, because it IS in chaos now.
Ahhhhhhhh, quick worring about all of this snow, spring is in 90-days and the daffodil's will be popping up. Geezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ! For me , I am having a Top Shelf Bourbon Manhattan with Cherries, a Great Cigar, and listen to W. Jennings singing my favorite song, "Its Monday Night Football".
Merry Christmas Texas, GOP, & NRA - nothing good comes out of TX (ie G.W. Bush)! Happy New Year Republicans!