America prepares for storms
Source: Agencies |
December 27, 2010, Monday
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A BAND of freezing weather snaking its way up the east coast of the United States yesterday was threatening to bring blizzards and 30 centimeters of snow to New York City and New England.
Airlines grounded hundreds of flights in anticipation of the storm, affecting major airports including New York's JFK and Newark.
Travel misery began a day earlier in parts of the south, where a rare white Christmas came with reports of dozens of car crashes.
In Washington, transport officials pre-treated roads and readied 200 salt trucks, plows and other pieces of equipment to fight the 15 centimeters or more expected to fall in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Forecasters issued a blizzard alert for New York City yesterday and it will stay in force today. A blizzard warning was also in effect for Rhode Island and most of eastern Massachusetts. A blizzard warning is issued when snow is accompanied by sustained winds or gusts over 56 kph.
By early yesterday, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina had declared states of emergency.
"We're urging extreme caution in travel. Try to get home early and if you don't have to travel don't go," Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell said.
The storm is the result of a low pressure system due to intensify off the North Carolina coast and strengthen as it moves northeast, the National Weather Service said.
The system gave the Carolinas their first white Christmas in decades. Columbia, South Carolina, had its first significant Christmas snow since 1887.
The North Carolina Highway Patrol said most roads in and around Asheville were affected by snow and ice.
Bill Rhyne, a spokesman for the South Carolina Highway Patrol, said snow started to cover roads on Saturday but there were fewer accidents than on a normal night.
"Everybody's at home," he said. "It's Christmas. They're heeding the warnings and staying off the roads."
Transport officials in the state deployed more than 200 plows, salt trucks and other equipment to deal with the adverse conditions.
In Nashville, two travelers who expected a smooth trip on Christmas got a rude surprise. "We were hoping this was going to be a good day to travel," said Heather Bansmer, 36, of Washington.
She and her husband, Shawn Breeding, 40, had planned to return home on separate flights after a family visit. But Breeding's flight got canceled and the couple spent much of Christmas Day in separate airports.
In Pensacola, Florida, Jena Passut, 36, drove with her husband and two children from Fairfax, Virginia, to visit relatives. She was worried about how to get home.
"I like a white Christmas as much as anyone, but I don't want to drive in it."
Airlines grounded hundreds of flights in anticipation of the storm, affecting major airports including New York's JFK and Newark.
Travel misery began a day earlier in parts of the south, where a rare white Christmas came with reports of dozens of car crashes.
In Washington, transport officials pre-treated roads and readied 200 salt trucks, plows and other pieces of equipment to fight the 15 centimeters or more expected to fall in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Forecasters issued a blizzard alert for New York City yesterday and it will stay in force today. A blizzard warning was also in effect for Rhode Island and most of eastern Massachusetts. A blizzard warning is issued when snow is accompanied by sustained winds or gusts over 56 kph.
By early yesterday, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina had declared states of emergency.
"We're urging extreme caution in travel. Try to get home early and if you don't have to travel don't go," Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell said.
The storm is the result of a low pressure system due to intensify off the North Carolina coast and strengthen as it moves northeast, the National Weather Service said.
The system gave the Carolinas their first white Christmas in decades. Columbia, South Carolina, had its first significant Christmas snow since 1887.
The North Carolina Highway Patrol said most roads in and around Asheville were affected by snow and ice.
Bill Rhyne, a spokesman for the South Carolina Highway Patrol, said snow started to cover roads on Saturday but there were fewer accidents than on a normal night.
"Everybody's at home," he said. "It's Christmas. They're heeding the warnings and staying off the roads."
Transport officials in the state deployed more than 200 plows, salt trucks and other equipment to deal with the adverse conditions.
In Nashville, two travelers who expected a smooth trip on Christmas got a rude surprise. "We were hoping this was going to be a good day to travel," said Heather Bansmer, 36, of Washington.
She and her husband, Shawn Breeding, 40, had planned to return home on separate flights after a family visit. But Breeding's flight got canceled and the couple spent much of Christmas Day in separate airports.
In Pensacola, Florida, Jena Passut, 36, drove with her husband and two children from Fairfax, Virginia, to visit relatives. She was worried about how to get home.
"I like a white Christmas as much as anyone, but I don't want to drive in it."
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