| Subject: Bad Weather |
Author:
Mother Nature
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Date Posted: 15:41:25 12/07/09 Mon
(CNN) -- A major winter storm walloped much of the United States Monday, snarling morning commutes in some areas and dumping snow as far south as Arizona.
At least three people were reported killed in weather-related traffic accidents. The first two occurred Sunday in northern California, the area first hit by the storm.
A 14-year-old boy died on Interstate 80 about 11 a.m. Sunday when the truck he was traveling in skidded off the road on a steep snow-covered grade, said California Highway Patrol spokeswoman Jeanie Hoatson. A second person was killed on State Route 89 about 45 minutes later when the vehicle they were driving went out of control and collided with a second vehicle, she said.
In Indiana on Monday, a 21-year-old man died on Interstate 65, northwest of Indianapolis, state police said. The man was involved in one of two weather-related crashes on the road as snow fell, and was struck by a semitrailer truck when he stepped out of his car, Indiana state police said.
Numerous traffic accidents were reported in states experiencing winter weather conditions. Those states stretched across the nation's midsection, from Ohio and Wisconsin to California.
Video: A snowy mess across America
Video: Wintry weather jams roadways
Video: Winter storms hit U.S.
Video: Wintry weather in Midwest However, the worst may be yet to come for many areas. Forecasters warned that the storm could cause widespread power outages through Wednesday and make travel nearly impossible in some areas. It may spread arctic air southward by midweek.
"It's forecast to affect about 17 states, from California all the way to Michigan," CNN meteorologist Sean Morris said.
Some parts of Iowa received up to 5 inches of snow Sunday, according to CNN affiliate KCCI, and could receive up to 10 inches of snow through Wednesday.
Chicago, Illinois, received about an inch of snow through Monday morning, said CNN iReporter Alan Hawkins. The sun came out and began to melt the snow, but by late morning the sky was overcast again.
Blizzard-like conditions are forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday, he said. More cold temperatures and snow are forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday, he said.
"Today's just kind of a taste of what we're going to get."
In Henderson, Kentucky, just across the Ohio River from Evansville, Indiana, a light snow began falling in the wee hours on Monday, iReporter Chris Gower told CNN. The snow continued into the morning, but by late morning had melted, Gower said. The area has received snow before, sometimes significant amounts, but Gower said he couldn't recall any snowfall since about 2003.
It was the same story in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where iReporter Sef Burns said an inch or two of snow was on the ground, but melting.
"They say we will have more, but we'll see," she said.
Is it snowing where you live? Send photos, video
The mountains of Arizona also received snow Sunday, with amounts depending on elevation. Rain was forecast in the lower-lying valley areas of the state, but winter storm warnings stretched as far south as Tucson.
Blizzard warnings are in effect for parts of central Rockies and the Mogollon Rim in Arizona, where up to 2 feet of snow and winds gusts of 50 mph could cause white outs, forecasters said.
Wind chills of 30 to 40 degrees below zero are forecast for the Midwest and the northern Plains, and afternoon temperatures may be in the single digits through Wednesday. The storm is forecast to intensify Monday as it strikes California and heads northeast toward the Rockies, forecasters said Sunday.
Winter storm warnings are in effect for Sierra Range southward to San Bernardino mountains in southern California. The area was set to experience heavy snow Monday, with up to 3 feet possible in the higher elevations.
Southern California may get wind gusts of 60 mph on Monday, which could damage trees, power lines and communication towers. Heavy rains were also forecast, triggering possibilities of mudslides and debris flows especially in burn areas.
The storm is expected to intensify Tuesday as it moves northeast into the Midwest and upper Great Lakes.
Winter storm watches are in effect for the regions, with blizzard conditions possible in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota on Tuesday.
"In these areas tomorrow, they could experience winds of 30 to 40 mph and visibilities near zero in blowing snow," Morris said.
On Wednesday, the storm will move into southern Canada as the coldest air of the season spills across the central United States, forecasters said.
Many temperatures will be below zero Thursday morning and daytime highs will struggle to make it out of the single digits across the upper Great Lakes, according to forecasters.
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