First Big Storm of 2009:Preparing For Snow, Sleet & Freezing

Brian Neudorff @ 6:22 pm January 27th, 2009 · No Comments

A potent winter storm will continue to stream moisture out of the western Gulf States through the Ohio Valley and into the Northeast tonight into Wednesday evening. Area National Weather Service offices have issued winter storm warnings and ice storm warnings from Texas all the way to Maine. This storm has already claimed the lives of three people because of slippery roads in Oklahoma, with two deaths in Missouri and one each in Texas and Arkansas. Jesse Ferrell over on his Weather Matrix blog for AccuWeather.com is keeping track of the reports coming out from this storm because of ice. Here is part of his 3pm update:

My calculations show that near 150,000 people are now without power in the Midwest, and the freezing rain is being measured in inches. The Mid-Atlantic has also been coated with a few inches of snow. Some of the Midwest freezing rain and sleet amounts seem incredible, but you can read about even higher historical amounts on my blog.

Jesse also has some reports on freezing rain (being measured in inches), sleet and snow.

Through the Ohio Valley into the eastern Great Lakes and into New England snow will spread across the region tonight into Wednesday. Some place, especially through southern and central New York could get over a foot of snow. This will cause travel problems. Just be careful if you have to be out in any of these areas that are under a winter storm watch or any other kind of winter advisory.