dan9999
01-07-2010, 01:25 PM
Snow expected to bring more frigid temperatures to Deep South
January 7, 2010 8:02 a.m. EST
Atlanta, Georgia (CNN) -- A snowstorm backed by bone-chilling cold began to push into the Deep South on Thursday, re-enforcing record-low temperatures well into Florida.
Snowfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches were forecast for the upper Plains to the Northeast, and as far south as Kentucky and Tennessee. The National Weather Service was also keeping an eye on a dangerous mix of ice and snow expected across the Southeast, running from Louisiana into Georgia.
A days-long cold spell eased some on Wednesday, but for much of the nation, even lower temperatures are on the way through the weekend. Record-breaking lows are forecast for two-thirds of the country, for most areas east of the Rockies.
The arctic blast that began over the weekend has been blamed for at least seven deaths across the nation.
CNN meteorologist Rob Marciano said some areas in the South will have slightly warmer temperatures on Thursday before it cools off even more.
"There'll be a brief warm-up," Marciano said. "This is a one-two punch, basically, and with the second punch, temperatures are about 5 degrees colder.
"But the brunt of the cold air will ride down the Mississippi River."
While Wednesday's mid-day temperatures in parts of north and central Florida rose to about 48 degrees, the overnight lows were of concern, Marciano said.
"It obviously warms up during the day, but to have this many nights [of cold weather] in a row, they haven't seen this in 20 years," Marciano said.
"Calm winds and a very cold and dry air mass will combine to allow rapid cooling after sunset" in northern Florida, the National Weather Service said in its overnight forecast.
Storm warnings were in effect for parts of Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois, the weather service said. A blizzard warning was in place for parts of South Dakota through Thursday morning.
School districts in Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska, called off classes for Thursday and city governments have reported burning through their entire snow removal budgets with a full two months of winter left.
In the Deep South, Florida is under a state of emergency because of the threat to the state's lucrative crop industry. Gov. Charlie Crist issued an order Tuesday aimed to help farmers across the state salvage what they can by lifting weight limits on trucks and allowing them to get already harvested crops out of the cold.
Deaths attributed to the cold included a homeless man found frozen to death in Kansas City, Missouri, CNN affiliate KCTV reported. At least four cold-related deaths occurred in Tennessee, including an 81-year-old Alzheimer's patient who apparently wandered outside during the night, police said.
In Lauderdale County, Mississippi, coroner Clayton Cobler confirmed that a 68-year-old man was found dead of hypothermia Tuesday in his home. The man lived alone, and heaters in his home were found to be not working, Cobler said.
In Cherokee County, South Carolina, officials said a man was found Wednesday afternoon dead in a tent behind a gas station, according to CNN affiliate WYFF. The coroner's office said it thought the man had died of hypothermia a couple of days ago.
CNN's Jim Kavanagh, Craig Johnson and Ed Payne contributed to this report.
January 7, 2010 8:02 a.m. EST
Atlanta, Georgia (CNN) -- A snowstorm backed by bone-chilling cold began to push into the Deep South on Thursday, re-enforcing record-low temperatures well into Florida.
Snowfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches were forecast for the upper Plains to the Northeast, and as far south as Kentucky and Tennessee. The National Weather Service was also keeping an eye on a dangerous mix of ice and snow expected across the Southeast, running from Louisiana into Georgia.
A days-long cold spell eased some on Wednesday, but for much of the nation, even lower temperatures are on the way through the weekend. Record-breaking lows are forecast for two-thirds of the country, for most areas east of the Rockies.
The arctic blast that began over the weekend has been blamed for at least seven deaths across the nation.
CNN meteorologist Rob Marciano said some areas in the South will have slightly warmer temperatures on Thursday before it cools off even more.
"There'll be a brief warm-up," Marciano said. "This is a one-two punch, basically, and with the second punch, temperatures are about 5 degrees colder.
"But the brunt of the cold air will ride down the Mississippi River."
While Wednesday's mid-day temperatures in parts of north and central Florida rose to about 48 degrees, the overnight lows were of concern, Marciano said.
"It obviously warms up during the day, but to have this many nights [of cold weather] in a row, they haven't seen this in 20 years," Marciano said.
"Calm winds and a very cold and dry air mass will combine to allow rapid cooling after sunset" in northern Florida, the National Weather Service said in its overnight forecast.
Storm warnings were in effect for parts of Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois, the weather service said. A blizzard warning was in place for parts of South Dakota through Thursday morning.
School districts in Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska, called off classes for Thursday and city governments have reported burning through their entire snow removal budgets with a full two months of winter left.
In the Deep South, Florida is under a state of emergency because of the threat to the state's lucrative crop industry. Gov. Charlie Crist issued an order Tuesday aimed to help farmers across the state salvage what they can by lifting weight limits on trucks and allowing them to get already harvested crops out of the cold.
Deaths attributed to the cold included a homeless man found frozen to death in Kansas City, Missouri, CNN affiliate KCTV reported. At least four cold-related deaths occurred in Tennessee, including an 81-year-old Alzheimer's patient who apparently wandered outside during the night, police said.
In Lauderdale County, Mississippi, coroner Clayton Cobler confirmed that a 68-year-old man was found dead of hypothermia Tuesday in his home. The man lived alone, and heaters in his home were found to be not working, Cobler said.
In Cherokee County, South Carolina, officials said a man was found Wednesday afternoon dead in a tent behind a gas station, according to CNN affiliate WYFF. The coroner's office said it thought the man had died of hypothermia a couple of days ago.
CNN's Jim Kavanagh, Craig Johnson and Ed Payne contributed to this report.