Monster Winter Storm Takes Aim at One-Third of U.S. (Live Thread)

FOXNews.com ^ | January 31, 2011 | | Associated Press

[metmom]

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- A monster winter storm took aim at a third of the nation Monday, threatening to lay a potentially deadly path of heavy snow and ice from the Rockies to New England, followed by a wave of bitter, bone-rattling cold that could affect tens of millions of people.

Cities including St. Louis, Kansas City and Milwaukee could be hardest hit, with expected midweek snowfalls of up to 2 feet and drifts piled 5 to 10 feet. Even hardy Chicago could be in for its third-worst blizzard since record-keeping began.

"I wouldn't want to be on the road in open areas tomorrow night," said forecaster Tom Skilling of Chicago television station WGN. "I don't think I'd want to be driving in the city either. The fact is people die in these things. They skid off the road and go wandering around in whiteout conditions."

Warmer areas were not safe, either. The system could spawn tornadoes in parts of the South.

[nascarnation]

Precip largely over here in Indy @ 8:30 EST as a dry slot works its way in from the SW.
We were very lucky - most precip today fell in form of sleet (ice pellets) rather than freezing rain.
Piles up like snow rather than accumulating on trees and power lines.
Winds 30+ gusting over 40.
Not nearly as many power outages as feared.
http://www.duke-energy.com/indiana/outages/current.asp
Looks like the worst are down Terre Haute way.

[silentreignofheroes]

Moving real fast , just got off the phone with one of our boys to the south of us , it’s over there , except for the T warning.Stay safe

[steve86]

What are you getting and how much?

Not sure about him but I've had little to none lately.

Prayers for those in the path of this storm and Queensland even more so.

[NormsRevenge]

Storm ain't slowing some down..

A man fishes in Lake Michigan in Chicago February 1, 2011. A colossal winter storm stretching from New Mexico to Maine hit the agricultural heartland of the United States with snow and freezing rain on Tuesday, and experts said the worst was still to come as it moved northeast. REUTERS/John Gress

[silentreignofheroes]

“Prayers for those in the path of this storm and Queensland even more so.”

Got that right.

We dodged a bullet.This is a bad one.We were on the tail end.

[Marine_Uncle]

Looks like Philly is going to be spared this one. Ice and rain later tonight through tomorrow with potential thunder storm, with perhaps temps as high as 44F. Still have huge mounds of snow I piled up days back across the street. And the large field across the street from my home is still totally white. Looks like cities like Boston and NYC are going to get totally blasted yet again.

[Marine_Uncle]

Stay dry, warm and safe Fred.

[Fred Nerks]

Thanks Uncle, it must be pretty bad, they have evacuated the hospitals and nursing homes, flown the patients and residents to Brisbane - and sent the animals in animal welfare refuge shelters out of the region, free of cost.
Meanwhile I am sitting here a thousand miles to the south, sweltering in front of a pedestal fan, the humidity is dripping from my forehead...
Saying a prayer for the very apprehensive people along the coastline way up north.

[Poser]

Still alive here in New Hampshire. I sure hope we survive.

[Marine_Uncle]

Let us hope your and the many prayers being held up for their safety is answered in the positive. You must be close to the south western border of your province, to meet a thousand mile quotation. Not soliciting your direct where about with that statement. Just an assumption.
And I guess you rather feel a bit cooler then warm as indicated. Hang in there Fred.

[Fred Nerks]

AIRS infrared image of Tropical Cyclone Yasi taken at 7:17 a.m. PST (10:17 a.m. EST) on Feb. 1, 2011. Areas colored purple represent the storm's coldest cloud-top temperatures and areas of heaviest precipitation. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Mass evacuations are underway in the northeastern Australian state of Queensland in anticipation of what forecasters expect will be the largest cyclone ever to hit the continent. Yasi has intensified rapidly and currently has winds gusting up to 295 kilometers per hour (183 mph). It is expected to maintain that intensity-equivalent to a Category Five hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale--until landfall in northeastern Queensland between Cairns and Innisfail during the late evening local time on Feb. 2 (early morning Feb. 2 in the United States).

[Marine_Uncle]

I can remember way back when skiing mostly central Vermont, and all the snow you folks and the Vermonters used to get. Philly has had record snows falling since before this past Christmas. I feel like I still live close to the mountains way north of Philly, where we used to get quite a bit of it.
I still have six foot piles across the street from me of snow I had to shovel and carry from my side of street four days back, (row homes).
Hang in there.

[Marine_Uncle]

Often I ridicule the press on their adjectives. But not this time around. It is clearly a real monster. I hope your area gets spared.

[EDINVA]

DC and Northern VA snow/ice warnings have also been changed to rain/drizzle, with temps up to 50s by mid-day Wednesday. So far every warning has been way out of line. Either the storms moved well East of here, or produced nowhere near the forecast precipitation.

[Marine_Uncle]

Good for you folks. Perhaps I will only see some rain. Of course that will create lots of flooding due the the huge amount of snow Philly still has on the ground. But it gives me a break from hauling three foot snow drifts away from my property, care, street area. My back is still bummed out from the one from four days back. I spent four hours straight then later in evening after a plow came through, another hour plus, to just keep my car open for needed local travel. Roads are still literally covered with snow and ice in some areas of Philly where I live.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Drive careful....

[Western Phil]

the Illini are playing Penn State and they need a crowd! LOL

Couldn't make it. Its about 15 miles into Assembly Hall & the weather is pretty bad for traveling. About 3400 made it though. The Illini seem to be doing OK yet. Hope they win it.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Ugh...I've spent some time in Chicago in February...and I sure wouldn't be out in the weather....

I would be in a nice cozy Hotel room or one of the "establishments" near a pizza place for some Chicago Pizza.

[Poser]

Snow? No problem. My lawn only has about 5 feet. I’ve got another 10 before it reaches the 2nd floor. The major annoyance is the damned snow plows. They only come by right after you clear the driveway.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

You need to go to Chicago and get some cool to take back home!