Blizzard aims for Midwest after socking Plains

Residents in the Northern Plains bundled up as a blast of cold air followed on the heels of a fast-moving blizzard, while the Midwest was the latest target of the one-two winter punch.

Wind chill warnings were forecast for much of Wisconsin, South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota. Temperatures could plummet to up to 35 below zero in some places Tuesday.

The snow storm was swirling over the Midwest and airlines prepared for blizzard-like conditions by canceling more than 300 flights from Chicago's two airports.

Large swaths across the United States were warned that bitterly cold air and freezing temps were moving into the area, with the Northern Plains and Midwest facing blizzard conditions and severe snow storms.

Arctic air is slated to dip down from Canada and spread snow into Montana, the Dakotas and Minnesota before rolling into the Midwest, South and Northeast by the end of the week. The newest freezing rain and snow patterns comes on the heels of a system that dumped up to a foot snow on parts of the Northeast including areas of New Hampshire and Connecticut.

Transportation officials and emergency crews are warning residents across the Midwest and Northeast about extremely dangerous road conditions, with slick, icy streets and limited visibility.

In the Northwest, flood alerts remained in effect, with heavy rain and melting snow causing three rivers in Washington state to flood and damaging property across the affected areas.

Grand Forks hits 37 below Blizzard conditions that started the week in North Dakota have given way to record cold on top of the mountains of snow built up over the past month.

Grand Forks reported a low of 37 below early today. The National Weather Service said it was six degrees colder than the mark for the date set in 1979.

Monday's blizzard dropped about 5 inches of snow in Minot and 4 in Bismarck, along with winds gusting to more than 50 mph in the western and central parts of the state. It added to the headaches of residents and crews working to clear streets and roads from a record December snowfall.-------

Currently -11°
Sunny Tue. -14/-4 Wed. -18/5 Thu. -8/-2 Fri. -3/9 Sat. 5/16 Sun. 15/30 Mon. 21/34
Winds: NNW at 3 MPHBarometric pressure: 30.40 in. (Hg) Sunrise: 7:49 amSunset: 4:56 pm Tomorrow's sunrise: 7:49 am

Last update: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 11:18 am

Coldest 48 hours of winter, possibly the coldest 48 hour stretch since 1996. Outdoor recess should be optional through Thursday!

-44 F at Embarrass this morning, record -40 F at International Falls (only the second time since 2000 the mercury has fallen to -40)

Coldest week of winter? Rivaling what we endured in mid December: subzero highs possible Tuesday and Thursday. Wake-up temperatures Thursday may dip to -20 in the outlying suburbs

Tuesday: Numbing - arctic sun. High: -2. Wind chill: -30 Tuesday night & Wednesday: Snow likely, 2-4 inches of additional powder. Wednesday High: 5 Thursday: Sunny, numbing. High: -4

Residents in the Northern Plains bundled up as a blast of cold air followed on the heels of a fast-moving blizzard, while the Midwest was the latest target of the one-two winter punch.

Wind chill warnings were forecast for much of Wisconsin, South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota. Temperatures could plummet to up to 35 below zero in some places Tuesday.

The snow storm was swirling over the Midwest and airlines prepared for blizzard-like conditions by canceling more than 300 flights from Chicago's two airports.

At least two-thirds of Ohio was under a winter weather advisory and a blizzard watch covers a few counties as the state braces for more snow, wind and colder temperatures.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning until Tuesday evening for northern Indiana. Wind gusts up to 40 mph were predicted.

The weather service is forecasting 5 to 11 inches of new snow in Detroit from Tuesday through Thursday and says temperatures will rapidly plunge during the day Tuesday from about 29 to about 6 degrees.

This morning's rush hour is nasty. It's snowing, it's bitter cold and traffic in many areas is moving at a crawl.

The snowfall began about midnight and will continue into the early afternoon with accumulations of 2 to 4 inches, said meteorologist Nathan Marsili of the National Weather Service office in Romeoville.

Areas south of Interstate Highway 80 likely will encounter the heaviest snowfalls, but no area of northern Illinois will be spared.

As the afternoon progresses with occasional flurries, look for windchill temperatures to drop, Marsili said. This afternoon, windchills will reach anywhere from zero to 10 degrees below zero, with late and overnight windchills as low as minus-30. Winds will pick up probably in the midafternoon, with northwest gusts of 20 to 30 m.p.h.

A windchill warning remains in effect from midnight through noon Friday.

The overnight low at O'Hare International Airport was 2 below,