Storm turns holiday travel dangerous in Midwest

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By PATRICK CONDON

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A blustery storm spread snow and ice across the heartland Thursday as Americans rushed to get home for the holidays, grounding flights, stranding drivers on white-knuckle highways and forcing churches to cancel Christmas Eve services.

"I don't think God wants anyone to get killed or break a hip or break a knee or something," said the Rev. Joseph Mirowski of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Transfiguration in Mason City, Iowa, where up to a foot of snow and sleet was expected.

A foot or two of snow was forecast in parts of the Plains and the Midwest by Christmas Day. Blizzard warnings were issued for Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin, and drivers were encouraged to pack emergency kits before setting out during what is normally one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

The storm was also expected to glaze highways in the East with ice on Christmas.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20091225/D9CQ3O900.html

[tridim]

1. Had to cancel my KC trip.

I probably could have made it, but I don't need the extra white-knuckle stress. I HATE driving on ice.

Stay safe everyone.

[kckc]

11. I made it

from KC to Omaha on Wednesday. Went through fog, drizzle, mist, sleet and torrential thunderstorms. Now there are 4 foot drifts and 40 mph winds, with snow expected to continue through Saturday. I know I grew up in this area but wow. This is just one massive storm.

[dflprincess]

2. The weather outside is frightful

several churches in the Mpls/St Paul area canceled Christmas Eve services.

My family has our Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve. Because no one had to work today, the time was moved up to a strangely early hour - I was home by 8:30 tonight and that felt weird. But everyone has been accounted for and all got home safely.

[Omaha Steve]

6. As far as I know, our family members are all safe

We haven't heard from Southern Indiana or New Mexico yet.

OS

[UpInArms]

10. we lost power when the blizzard hit last night

about 7 o'clock - dedicated workers got us back on line about 2 o'clock this morning - blizzard is in full force right now and we are expecting a total of 12 inches here - winds blowing 40 mph - current air temperature of about 10 degrees.

:brr:

[pansypoo53219]

3. milwaukee

lucked out again. we got about 6" of snow, but it got warmer after midnight and mostly rain today. the roads just rain.

[DesertFlower]

4. i'm in phoenix, but

my first 48 years were spent in new york city. i remember how treacherous it was driving in the snow.

you all be careful out there.

[Sultana]

5. Jesus take the wheel

:scared: :scared: :scared:

[winyanstaz]

7. I grew up in Wyoming, Montana and the Dakotas....

This is all pretty normal this time of year. People that live there are used to white-out blizzards, hail storms and even a few tornados every now and then.
By Holloween we were hiking through knee high snowdrifts to trick or treat as kids..even in mild blizzards :) hahaa
In some parts of the Little Big Horns it sometimes even snows on the 4th of July. :)

[dipsydoodle]

8. BBC link

A "humongous" winter storm is rolling across the central US, bringing chaos to road and air transport from Texas to Minnesota.

Icy roads were blamed for the deaths of at least 18 people, many of them in Nebraska and Kansas. Some 100 flights leaving Minneapolis were cancelled.

The US weather service said the storm was spanning two-thirds of the country.

>

Up to 2ft (60cm) of snow was possible in some areas by Christmas Day (Friday), forecasters said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8429618.stm

[newfie11]

9. Here in the western Nebraska panhandle

we have winds 40 MPH, gusts up to 60MPH. Possible 4 inches of snow. Drifts yesterday were about 3 feet, who knows today. Our dinner guests have been reduced to just our 4 Newfoundland dogs (who love this weather) and our Pom.
We are not going anywhere.

[jwirr]

12. From the Cloquet area - many roads are plowed and travel is possible

but not all that safe. Our family all are using the few 4 wheel drive vehicles we have to transport everyone out to the farm for Christmas - children are loving every minute of this and for that matter after we all get our drives plowed out us adults will be playing in the white stuff to. This morning the snow is heavy and moist so it is not drifting and blinding you when you drive. Standing inside looking out it is very beautiful. Merry Christmas to all on DU and even to the lurkers.