Blizzard watch for US northern plains

by Yuliya Talmazan | January 12, 2009 at 09:34 am

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UPDATE: North Dakota is in the midst of a snow blizzard. Temperatures as low as -30 are predicted. Other regions are experiencing the full rage of weather too.

A fast-moving blizzard brought snow and high winds to North Dakota on Monday, closing schools and causing more headaches for residents still trying to dig out from a record snowfall last month.

Elsewhere:

_ The Pacific Northwest remained on alert with three flooded rivers in Washington, where state officials were assessing the damage from heavy rain and melting snow on roads and property.

_ In northeast Indiana, two men died Sunday after their snowmobiles fell through the ice covering a lake in Noble County. A third man boating on a different lake died. His body was found partially submerged.

_ Saturday's snow was a boon to Ohio ski resorts, which called it a stimulus package for their industry.

"We've been in business for 47 years and — this is what I can't believe — yesterday was by far the best gross sales day we've ever had," said George Shaffer, area manager of the Alpine Valley ski resort east of Cleveland in Geauga County, where 11 inches fell.

Snow blizzard warnings have been issued for the northern plains of the U.S. due to the arctic air moving from Canada. A wave of cold air is expected to hit most of the U.S. by the end of this week. There is a possibility that the unpredictable weather might affect Obama's inauguration on January 20th with a 30% chance of snow before the day of inauguration, making it difficult to handle large crowds of spectators.

The northern plains are set to get blizzards Monday with warnings issued.

Arctic cold air coming from Canada is the culprit spreading snow into Montana, the Dakotas and Minnesota.

The cold air and snow is expected to spread into the Midwest.

More cold air and winter storms will push into the Northeast by the end of the week, it is already experiencing a lot of bad weather.

And cold air will also push into the South by the end of the week.

Due to blizzard-like conditions that will develop, travel could become dangerous, with visibilities of just a quarter of a mile or less. The storm system is also expected to produce wind chills of 15 to 20 degrees below zero late Monday night and Tuesday morning, the weather service said.

As of 4 p.m. Saturday, there have been about 100 cancellations at O'Hare with delays averaging about 60 to 90 minutes, according to the Department of Aviation. At Midway, delays are averaging 30 to 45 minutes, but only a few cancellations have been reported.

Statistics showed there is a five-percent chance that snow will powder spectators on the Mall, a long tree-lined strip of land leading up to the US Capitol where Obama will be sworn in - and a 12-percent chance they will be soaked in rain.

But weather services said there is a 30-percent chance of snow before the ceremony. Local authorities have prepared a fleet of 200 snowplows and salt trucks ready to hit the main arteries in case of a snowfall.