Luke Skywalker
Super Moderator
{vb:raw ozzmodz_postquote}:
C.J. Waltemeyer, 10, left, and Sergio Cuaresma, 11, walk their sleds along East George Street in Westminster, Md.(Photo: DYLAN SLAGLE, AP)
The latest in a series of storms was set to bring bring snow, sleet, and freezing rain to parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast on Sunday morning, while heavy snow will continue to fall in parts of Colorado.
The worst of the snow and ice will hit the Northeast, — with 8 inches possible in some inland areas — and parts of the Rockies, according to AccuWeather.com.
However, temperatures are expected to warm Sunday to highs near the mid-30s in Boston and Portland, Maine, and near 42 in Philadelphia. Even with the wind chill, it could seem a "balmy" 30 to 35 degrees in New York City.
But Kim Buttrick of the National Weather Service says the warmer temperatures will be "a little teaser" before readings return to below normal on Monday and Tuesday.
Heavy snow up to 3 inches an hour fell across parts of Colorado's Front Range on Saturday, while in Wyoming, a 50-mile stretch of Interstate 80 between Cheyenne and Laramie was closed.
"Colorado still looks to be the bulls-eye for the highest amounts of snowfall accumulation from this storm," said AccuWeather.com meteorologist Becky Elliott.
USA TODAY
Airlines cancel Sunday flights from latest storm
Nearly 1,500 flights had been canceled and more than 2,750 delayed Saturday at airports across the East, South and in Denver. As of 2 a.m. ET Sunday, 563 flights were canceled and 1,184 delayed across the country.
As a winter stortm sets in, a lone cross-country skier heads out on a street in southeast Denver on Saturday.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: David Zalubowski, AP)
By Saturday night, about 8 inches of snow had fallen in Baltimore, while Washington had 5 inches and New York City had 2. Another round of bitter cold will linger across the region for most of the upcoming week when the storm departs.
In Tennessee, rain and above-freezing temperatures prompted state emergency officials to warn of possible flash flooding from melting snow while officials in the Washington area, where 4 to 8 inches was expected, urged drivers to avoid unnecessary travel. Blowing snow swirled through the streets of Philadelphia and New York City.
"The arctic air mass we've been dealing with means this storm will overachieve," said Lance Franck, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey.
USA TODAY
Bitter winter storm spreads ice, heavy snow in the east
The Federal Aviation Administration briefly issued a ground stop on Saturday to keep flights from taking off for Philadelphia International Airport because of reduced visibility and high winds, airport spokeswoman Mary Flannery said.
She said about 20% of the flights into and out of the airport were canceled, and many others were delayed. The FAA was reporting that the three airports in the New York metropolitan area, Washington Dulles International Airport and Memphis International Airport in Tennessee also were experiencing significant delays because of the weather.
Brittany Thayer, 20, was buying winter boots at Lenny's Shoe and Apparel in Barre, Vermont, on Saturday as the snow was just starting to fall. "I think it's stupid," she said of the snow. "I'm ready for spring."
More issues could ensue in New England, which has been slammed by several strong storms in recent weeks — Boston has seen more than 8 feet of snow. Three to 6 inches of fresh snow was forecast for much of New England, as well as a wintry mix including rain as temperatures climb.
Kim Buttrick, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Taunton, Massachusetts, said existing snowpack will become heavier as it absorbs any rain that does fall and endanger strained roofs.
"It especially will be problematic for flat roofs," she said. "On a sloped roof, with that loading, the weight of the snow may just come falling down, and could be a hazard with icicles. It could also take the gutters with it."
The higher temperatures won't last, either.
"We have a little teaser with this warmup," Buttrick said, "but temperatures are going to go back to being below normal on Monday and Tuesday."
Contributing: Associated Press
Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed