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Bill Zars / Daily Herald via AP
Terry Bessen of Schaumburg clears a sidewalk at the School District 25 offices in Arlington Heights, Ill. on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012. "It has been a great winter so far but were were due for some snow," said Bessen.
Updated 8:15 p.m. ET
Snow was expected to continue through Friday, with accumulations reaching 6 to 12 inches in parts of Maine, according to Accuweather.com. The snow was set to push farther north, spreading across the rest of Maine later on Thursday.
In the Midwest, snowfall totals climbed up to half a foot across areas of Wisconsin and Michigan by mid-afternoon with snow coming down in parts of Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky and Indiana as well.
Original story
Cold fronts moving in from the north on Thursday made for the first icy blast across the Midwest and Northeast this winter, with parts of Connecticut seeing their first snow since October and snow-starved Chicago hit with hundreds of flight cancellations.
"This is a pretty potent storm and covers a wide area," NBC TODAY's weather anchor Al Roker warned.
Some Northeast airports saw flight delays, and airlines at Chicago's airports canceled more than 425 flights by Thursday afternoon.
At O'Hare, more than 325 flights were canceled, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation. Southwest Airlines canceled all flights in and out of Midway International Airport, totaling more than 100 flights or 25 percent of the airport's flights.
Frank Polich / Reuters
American Airlines jets taxi to and from the gate at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago on Thursday.
The snow also contributed to hundreds of accidents and at least three deaths on Missouri and Iowa roads.
Up to 3 inches fell overnight in Connecticut, the first since an early October snowstorm, NBC Connecticut reported.
Kansas City, Mo., also saw about an inch of snow overnight as a system moved into the Midwest.
The Weather Channel said winter was making "a roaring comeback" across the country after weeks of mild weather.
Up to 8 inches of snow was forecast for Chicago, and even more for neighboring northwest Indiana, NBC Chicago reported. An ugly evening commute was expected in the Chicago area, where 465 snow-fighting trucks were called in.
A winter storm is expected to drop up to 9 inches of snow in New Hampshire. The Weather Channel's Eric Fisher reports.
Snow could be falling at an inch an hour by afternoon in the Chicago area, the National Weather Service said in a warning, and wind gusts up to 35 mph could make it feel like 10 below by Friday morning.
For Illinois, Thursday marked the first significant snowfall in most parts in 11 months. Records for warm temps have been set in recent weeks across the state, including Wednesday in Rockford, which saw 57 degrees -- besting the 50 on Jan. 11, 1980.
As for the Northeast, New England should see 6-9 inches of snow in many areas, and isolated areas could get a foot.
In New Hampshire, hundreds of schools were closed or delayed due to snow.
"A day like today, it's really the travel issues," said Ed Murdough, a facility administrator at the New Hampshire Department of Education. "We don't want students standing out waiting for the bus when it's slippery and buses would have a hard time getting where they need to be."
The Midwest is bracing for its first significant snow of the season, with some areas of Wisconsin and Illinois set to get nearly a foot of the white stuff. NBC's Al Roker reports.
Parts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts saw slushy snow early Thursday, making for a messy commute.
PHOTOBLOG: Images from the storm
The snow is expected to even stretch as far south as Nashville, Tenn., where a forecast of up to a half inch led to a cancellation of all afterschool activities Thursday.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
global warmin uh?
Yeah! Everyone knows that the most scientific way to measure global warming is to stick your hand out the window. If it gets cold, then there's no such thing as global warming! Simple as that! Simple enough for your feeble brain, dude?
First place is that there is far less snow and less cold weather far more often in the midwest the last 30+ years. We ran snowmobiles until the early 80s, when it became impossible. Second, few people comprehend how warming the oceans by a fraction of a degree causes the upper weather patterns to change and the sweep from Alaska to the deep south changes radically. Usually called El Nina' or La Nina', that is an indication of the truth. If you chose to believe that global warming and man's part in it are a hoax, those alive in 40 years when the Great Plains become the Great American Desert and food is scarce will remember the "hoax" of today.
I love this weather! my heating bill is the lowest in years. I have A/C so bring on the heatwave baby!
Global warming is the warming of the planet not the weather on the planet you must live under a rock or get very bad info to post such garbage in the first place.
weather and climate are 2 different things....look it up.....
Pull your head out jerk.
All I have to say is, I'm glad I don't live in that climate anymore! Hate the cold, the wet, and the snow. Yuck!
Hooray, no school!
Steve-3883232 I know and it is a good thing too. Heating oil is more expensive than the more refined crude; gasoline. Why is that? In many places, across America, heating oil is kissing $4.00/gallon. LP, I understand, is about the same. Wait a second Steve, what is this post?
raoulduke114 Post 1.6 Are you insane boy? There is no excuse for your statement. That is one thing that should never be said to any one. No matter how much you hate and how much anger you have there is no excuse. This is blatant sociopathic behavior. You are a danger to others and I suggest that you need to be locked away as you are a dysfunctional member of society.
Winter in So Cal has been cancelled, its been in the 80's and sunny everyday since halloween...
Did you watch the RoseBowl Parade or Game..? It's been like that everyday. As I look out my window right now-- not a cloud in sight, 10mph breeze and 80 degrees again.
With no change to be seen in the near future. It's so depressing....
How can anyone be so bloody ignorant? GoodvsEvil: you may want to get a refund on any money you or your parents paid for your education! Clearly, it failed you!
Hitobito: It's public school education, the taxpayers' money hard at work.
Last year, Dallas saw snow. I guess things have changed since then. I think the explanation was that the Chinese were burning more coal, which cooled the atmosphere. This year, I think the late starting winter is due to "El Guapo" parked off the Pacific ocean...or is it Los Ojos Rojos...I cant remember.
Wow...let me guess, party of civility?
You (GoodvsEvil) obviously obtain all of your news or weather related mis-information from the news models at FOX Noise, genius!!
Up here in the northwest, we used to have winter every year. Now we only get if every few years. It's great not having to deal with snow every year, but there is NO doubt that things have changed dramatically.
Apparently this is still open for debate.....I guess.
There used to be a mile thick glacier over the Great Lakes. Dont worry, things will change yet again.
raoulduke114 banned for wishing another Viner to commit suicide. No, thank you.
And this is news because why?? Here in Western NY( no snow on the ground), winter weather advisories are posted for Fri-Sun. Possible snow totals......4-7 inches???WTF. Get real people. A storm is a foot or more. With 3-7 inches the roads get plowed once and life goes on.
I think it is news because it is abnormal for the Midwest and Northeast to be experiencing their first real winter weather in mid-January.
It is unusual. The temperature has been in the 50's and 60's in Illinois. I was beginning to think that this was going to be "The Winter That Wasn't".
It was 54 degrees in the Twin Cities the other day, definitely not normal. I just keep waiting for mother nature to realize it is January and dump a couple of feet on us, just to catch up.
Karl, I couldn't agree more were in Akron between Buffalo & Rochester, "advisory" out for 4-7." HA! we'll be lucky if we get 1/2".
What? Winter weather?? In the winter months???
Can you believe it. Snow in the winter. How could they?
Can you believe it? Autumn until January?
We got about two inches in Worcester, MA. Since no one plowed by the time I left for work, it made for a slow ride out, but no big deal. It's been a mild winter (aside from that storm in October that knocked out power around here for over a week), so I'm not complaining. Last year we got a winter storm once a week for five weeks straight. This is nothing.
I hope everyone in my new state of NC sees the little school kids going to school in the snow. Down here they close everything just when it gets cold!!
Those little kids are tougher than tarheels!!
Why don't those little girls have boots on in the snow storm? Looking at those sneakers make me feel cold.
That was the first thing that I thought too. Here in the South you often see kids in clothing and shoes that are not in tune with the season but those girls should have had more appropriate shoes or boots on. However, it may be a sign of the fiscal times that we are in.
Actually, kids around here (way upstate New York) don't much like boots. If there isn't enough snow to go above the rubber soles (or the entire shoe) lots of kids will wear their regular shoes. When there's enough snow to cover your feet, then they wear boots. Also, it was cold but not extremely, around the low 30s. Boots are more necessary when you get down into the lower 20s and below. I think it's mostly because boots are a hassle at school. Our elementary school has cubbies in the halls outside the classrooms, and boots tend to fall all over the place - especially when crammed in with winter coats, hats, scarves, gloves/mittens, backpacks, etc. In the high school there are lockers, but if you're like a lot of kids, papers and books are piled in the bottom of the locker and boots get everything wet. And even with shoes instead of boots, the kids stay pretty healthy (we breed strong stock up here).
Still no snow in the Twin Cities - bummer.
I agree with you Chuck, while I can do without the sub-zero temps we are usually experiencing this time of year, I really hate when the ugliness of late fall isn't covered by snow and lasts for months on end.
Then you would hate northern California.
We get 6 months of autumn then it's spring again.
we are getting snow just 30 miles south of the Twin cities in cannon falls mn.
james - I am in Prior Lake and we still have nothing, there were a few flurries earlier, but nothing that has stuck around.
Lies Chuck! I look forward to getting in yet another "autumn" bike ride in this weekend.
We received only a slight dusting of global warming last night. Today is frigid!
NO, NO NO... this cannot be correct?
YESTERDAY's the brain-dead morons at PMSNBC front page headline read, "If you want snow... head South!"
PMSNBC has been "pushing articles" for days, if not weeks, asking "Where is the snow?"
As if to suggest that "maybe Snow is not coming???"
The pathetic ignorance of the brain-dead morons, buffoons and clowns at PMSNBC always out-do themselves, contradicting themselves, day after day after day... and in many cases, actually contradicting themselves on the same day, while never "referring to that other story reporting opposite information".
Yes, if there is ONE thing the brain-dead morons at PMSNBC does very well, it is "posting of senseless, non-newsworthy and contradictory stories" on a regular basis.
What schools these dopes attempted to gain an education, how they ever graduated remains a mystery.
The "kicker" is that "some other morons at PMSNBC" interviewed these people and "actually approved their hiring?"
Extra Special KUDOS to the "HR ZOO at PMSNBC" for all of the incredible candidates you people selected for interviews! WOW :-)
Checking out this website is more entertaining than any comic book.
Glen Beck says, and I quote: "It's all God's fault!" Rush Limbaugh says, and I quote: "It's all Obama's fault with a small measure of God involved."
scrambolo,
Your an idiot for listening to those two bigger idiots!
The ultimate irony: when people call others 'idiots' and yet can't tell the difference between your and you're.
It's winter !!!!!!!!!! You were expecting 70 degrees and sunny perhaps?
That's our forecast for tomorrow; SF bay area.
It's 60 degrees here in Pennsylvania today. Just stopped raining. Which is fine by me. Rain I don't have to shovel.
Isn't it suppose to snow in the northern US in the Winter. That's not global warming, that's predictable regional climate.
lobal warming is real. Pull your heads out of the sand and get real. Drough in some areas and the jet stream is forever changing.
I dunno ... my lobes feel warm.
Nobody is disputing lobal warming.
It's global warming that's a complete crock.
ronfree = ron free of proper English language and grammer.
You mean grammar? Helps to know it yourself before you point and laugh at others.
denver bill, Too funny! OMG, I can't quit laughing!
radagast, you are correct, NC does close for very little snow. However, there are a few differences between NC and IL. Fist, central and eastern NC do not get very much snow so they do not invest greatly in removal equipment. Second, western NC can get a lot of snow but, the roads there are not 100 miles of straight flat pavement. Also, you can have no snow in a town but drive a few miles and you can see a lot, it is called elevation. Finally, most kids in NC can't walk to school due to the distance. However, I can tell you that waiting for a bus at -40 in Boone NC was not for the weak of spirit. If you hate NC that much, just leave. They have gotten along for nearly 360 years, I think the state would survive without you!
Good message tarheel! I'd have said it but don't have the credentials. I've only lived in NC for 36 years. As I tell my tarheel questioners, "No, I wasn't born here, but I got here as quick as I could!" It my place now although you can probably tell that I'm not from around these parts.
"snow-starved Chicago?" Really? Residents are desperate to be snowed in, to start shoveling, plowing, scraping, slipping, sliding, falling, freezing? Who writes this crap?
Good one, John.
LOL
Wasn't just a bit ago that the Midwest and Northeast crying "Where is the Snow? Must be Global Warming!"
Now that they may get an over abundance of snow they are saying "WOW!! Extreme Snowfall. Must be Global Warming!"
Like the saying goes 'Be careful what you wish for,it might come true!'.
The Earth doesn't care what we wish for. It will warm whether we like it of not.
Good one Jock. The Earth really doesn't care, it will take care of itself over time. We might be a casualty of that, however.
I was just commenting on the Midwest and the Northeast wanting SNOW and now they MAY get more then they bargained for. I was also trying to inject a little humor. I guess it was to LITTLE!
Glo-"bull" warming. It's natural climate change and we can't do a thing about it. BTW, where has mr. methane (al gore) been lately? Since climategate, he's been incommunicado. He is still flying around in his private gulf stream jet spewing out polution by buying 'carbon off-sets (another BS scam) from his OWN COMPANY! Look it up. Mr. methane created his own carbon off-set company back in the late 90's then started the global warming fanatical religion.
What fat bag of hipocritical gas just like michael moore (a 1%-er).
Slide 6, could not have said it better myself.
The fact that Al Gore is a bit hypocritical does not change the science of global warming, which is quite clear.
Global warming is not about science, it's about politics.
I hate snow, but since I live in Indiana, I shovel when I have to, and drive slowly when it's slick. That's the way it's always been--like it or not. Come on, SPRING!
Snow? Bring it on! We need it up here to insulate septic systems. Below zero temps and no snow is a bad thing if you're not hooked into city sewer.
Wow, that "stinks"...and pun intended. Too bad you couldn't set up a pipeline and pump it back to the largest cesspool tank - chicago.
It appears to me that you must have a lot of improperly installed septic systems!
Disabled,
Possibly. Not really sure, just know some will freeze up without the snow. Septic systems are not my strong point.
3-6 inches or 6-9 inches,Big deal.I live in upstate NY and we have 0 inches.It's winter and if 3-6 is a big deal the country is in big trouble..
Looks like La Niña is in full swing.
Its 50 and raining again in Buffalo. Metro Buffalo has yet to see any measurable snow this entire fall and winter.
keep the snow right where it is and away from me and my jersey!! lolol
joann: Your jersey? It can stay away from everything around here my jersey, my shorts etc. I'll take rain anytime, that I don't have to shovel!
This NOT a big storm or major event up here in southern NH.
The media is (once again) playing it up melodramatically. I am at a loss as to why many towns and schools are closed today. We received 4" with about 8" up north....not a big deal and quite ordinary.
I get concerened when we reach 15" or more.
Here we go again. A little snow falling and the global warming monkeys come out. Yeah, let's argue for argue's sake. Nobody knows what is going on but they argue.
Naysayers, it's called climate change for a reason. It entails extreme weather patterns which include warming and cooling. People should look at the irrefutable proof throughout the global scientific community before jumping on the conspiracy theory bandwagon that it's made up!