A massive storm that dropped sleet and freezing rain across the nation’s midsection, leaving nearly a million utility customers without electricity, finally tapered off, but another wintry blast was forecast to develop Wednesday over the southern Plains.
The new system was expected to bring more sleet and freezing rain to Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas, but not nearly as much as the previous storm, according to the National Weather Service.
Ice ranging from a quarter-inch to an inch thick glazed roads in much of the central Plains and Midwest. At least 24 deaths have been blamed on the storm since it developed last weekend. Most resulted from traffic accidents.
Forecasters said more snow, sleet and freezing rain could develop across the northern Ohio Valley and from Pennsylvania into New England on Wednesday
The power outage was the worst ever in Oklahoma, with more than 618,000 homes and businesses without electricity late Tuesday. Officials said it could be a week to 10 days before power is fully restored.
Read it all. I have to confess that seeing the Oklahoma footage on the news this morning felt a bit odd, as it has been in the 80’s here this week–KSH.
In the bleak midwinter, frost wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter, long ago.
Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain;
heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.
Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
but his mother only, in her maiden bliss,
worshiped the beloved with a kiss.
What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
if I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
yet what I can I give him: give my heart
I live in Nebraska and luckily missed most the power outages but I did have to chisel my car out of its ice casing. My parents in Tennessee called to check on me and said it 76 there. My mother told me she had to roll the windows down on the drive home from work because she was sweating.
I just ain’t got no sympathy for ya, Ma.
My daughter goes to college in Springfield, MO. They got a lot of ice but, thankfully, they didn’t lose power and most finals are going on as scheduled….no one wanted to prolong that agony.
This morning in Sioux Falls was 1F (and the dog wanted to search for rabbits instead of just pee, of course). But, we’ve had none of the extreme ice or impaired power afflicting other places. They are in our prayers here.
One degree? That’s getting to be windbreaker weather in SD!!
Heck, I caught some great waves this morning.