Yikes! The Ice Storm Heads East!

[3113]

We in the west just had to share. Everyone keeping warm?

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - A storm blamed for at least 41 deaths in six states spread into the Northeast on Monday, coating trees, power lines and roads with a shell of ice up to a half-inch thick and knocking out power to more than half a million homes and businesses.

Icy roads cut into Martin Luther King Jr. holiday observances from Albany, N.Y., to Fort Worth and Austin, Texas, where officials also canceled Gov. Rick Perry's inauguration parade Tuesday because another round of ice was expected overnight.

The weight of the ice snapped tree limbs and took down power lines, knocking out electricity to about 145,000 customers in New York state and New Hampshire. Even in Maine, a state well-accustomed to winter weather, a layer of sleet and snow on roads shut down businesses, day care centers and schools.

In hard-hit Missouri, the utility company Ameren said it would probably not have everyone's lights back on until Wednesday night. Overnight temperatures were expected to drop into the single digits. As of Monday afternoon, about 312,000 homes and businesses still had no electricity. Missouri National Guardsmen went door to door, checking on residents, and helped clear slick roads.

About 100,000 homes and businesses blacked out in Oklahoma, some of them since the storm's first wave struck on Friday, also were still waiting for power Monday. Ice built up by sleet and freezing rain was 4 inches thick in places.

"Emergency responders are having a hard time getting to residents where their services are needed because of trees and power lines in the road," said Pittsburg County, Okla., Undersheriff Richard Sexton.

The Army Corps of Engineers dispatched soldiers from Tulsa to deliver 100 emergency generators to the McAlester area. Fifty additional generators were being sent from Fort Worth, Texas, by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. About 106,000 customers were without electricity Monday in Michigan.

More than 160 flights were canceled at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Authorities closed University of Texas and Austin public schools Tuesday....A wave of arctic air trailed the storm and was expected to push temperatures into the single digits in some areas.

Put an extra log on the fire, boys and girls!

 

[R. Richard]

Sounds like fun, NOT!

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

It's weird, but somehow I find it comforting to be discussing routine (if dangerous and sometime tragic) weather events. I get a similar feeling if I open the daily paper and see something along the lines of this thread's topic as the lead headline. My first thought is something like, "Well, I guess there were no major terrorist attacks or econonic calamities overnight."

Yes, I'm weird.

 

[Pure]

it has swept through lower ontario with minimal damage in the more southern areas.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Lucky me. New Jersey got spared.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

What the hell. It's snowing like mad here this morning... And I'm in the west...

 

[TheeGoatPig]

What the hell. It's snowing like mad here this morning... And I'm in the west...

The last two years have just been completely messed up all over the world as far as weather is concerned.

Here on the east coast we had winter for five months last year. This year we had fall, then a short winter (in October and November, for those who forgot), and then had a second fall in December (still going actually).

 

[Lisa Denton]

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b11/LisaDenton/Untitled-555.jpg



There was icy roads last night here, just the side streets. Most of the ice is gone but it is "freakin cold."

 

[Selena_Kitt]

There was icy roads last night here, just the side streets. Most of the ice is gone but it is "freakin cold."

what is it, like 30 degrees? That's nuttin'!

 

[Lisa Denton]

what is it, like 30 degrees? That's nuttin'!

This is texas .................................. 130 in the shade is nuttin.

30 is below freezin!!!!!!

My nipples could get frostbite!!

I am thinking about building a big comfy fire, but I don't have a fireplace.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

It was 10 f when I left for work this morning. Second winter here we are!