Albany, New York - Spring can't seem to upstage winter in the Northeast and parts of the nation's midsection, as a far-reaching storm on Wednesday brought up to a foot of snow to areas from the Dakotas to upstate New York.
Scores of schools closed or delayed opening in Wisconsin, northeastern Pennsylvania, upstate New York and northwest New Jersey because of the weather. Authorities in Wisconsin blamed icy conditions for the death of a woman whose car skidded off the road.
Communities in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains were expecting more than 11 inches by the time the storm moved out late Wednesday, The National Weather Service reported.
Storms
© Associated Press / National Park Service
In this March 15, 2011 photo provided by the National Park Service, the carcass of a musk ox is shown frozen in ice at Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, Alaska. The frozen musk oxen were found on Tuesday, March 15, 2011, during a routine flight to track at least four musk oxen that had been fitted with collars to conduct research.
In this March 15, 2011 photo provided by the National Park Service, the carcass of a musk ox is shown frozen in ice at Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, Alaska. The frozen musk oxen were found on Tuesday, March 15, 2011, during a routine flight to track at least four musk oxen that had been fitted with collars to conduct research.
Researchers found the frozen animals March 15 while flying over the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve to track at least four of the animals, which had been outfitted with radio collars.
"Basically, the radio collars led us to the dead animals," National Park Service spokesman John Quinley said.
Officials planned to fly over the area again Tuesday to determine the fate of another 23 animals in the herd. It wasn't immediately clear if any of those were fitted with collars.
"We didn't see any carcasses, but we didn't see them walking around," he said.
The remainder of the herd could be buried deeper in the snow. If so, the bodies wouldn't be visible until spring.
© Shannon Burkey
A massive landslide in an unincorporated area of the county has blocked the only road in and out of the neighborhood, stranding residents.
A massive landslide in an unincorporated area of the county has blocked the only road in and out of the neighborhood, stranding residents.
According to Scotts Valley Fire District Cpt. Mike Pasquini, the slide, which occurred near Scotts Valley on Nelson Road at Sky Meadow Lane, does not present any immediate danger to residents.
"The homes are affected in the sense that they have no access," Pasquini said.
About 57 people live in the affected area and three to four houses are still without power, according to April Murray, public information officer for the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff's officers contacted all of the residents on Monday and most said they were planning on staying in their homes.
"We have seen some people leave though," Murray said. "People with babies and animals have been making their way out."
© T.J. Conley/News On 6
News On 6 viewer T.J. Conley snapped this photo in Coffeyville, Kansas.
News On 6 viewer T.J. Conley snapped this photo in Coffeyville, Kansas.
One viewer said hail the size of golf balls covered the ground in Coffeyville, Kansas.
The fast moving storm caused only a few drizzles in the Tulsa metro area as it drifted northeast out of the area.
A return to windy and warm conditions will be likely Sunday through Tuesday with fire danger issues dominating the headlines.
A storm system will brush the state Tuesday evening and there will be a slight chance of storms across the eastern third of the state. A few could be severe if they form.
A powerful Pacific storm will pound California and Nevada with heavy rain and high elevation snow. Winter storm warnings are in effect for the Sierra Nevadas of California with up to 2 feet of new snow possible above 7,000 feet. Some lower elevations in California could experience more than an inch of rain, prompting flooding concerns.
High wind warnings are in effect for almost all of California and Nevada as southerly winds will gust up to 75 mph in the lower elevations and up to 100 mph along the ridges of the Sierra Nevadas. The intensity of the wind may potentially knock out power to some populated areas.
Meanwhile, another storm will move into the upper Midwest, spreading rain. The rain will make its way into the Mississippi Valley watershed, adding to an already potentially record-breaking flood season. Flood watches and warnings are already in effect for the Mississippi River.
Temperatures in the Northeast will rise into the 30s and 40s, while the Southeast will see readings in the 70s and 80s. The Southern plains will see temperatures in the 80s and some 90s, while the Northwest will see 40s and 50s. Higher elevations will only rise into the 20s and 30s in the West. Temperatures in the lower 48 states on Saturday have ranged from a morning low of 6 degrees at Crane Lake, Minn., to a high of 89 degrees at Augusta Bush, Ga.
High wind warnings are in effect for almost all of California and Nevada as southerly winds will gust up to 75 mph in the lower elevations and up to 100 mph along the ridges of the Sierra Nevadas. The intensity of the wind may potentially knock out power to some populated areas.
Meanwhile, another storm will move into the upper Midwest, spreading rain. The rain will make its way into the Mississippi Valley watershed, adding to an already potentially record-breaking flood season. Flood watches and warnings are already in effect for the Mississippi River.
Temperatures in the Northeast will rise into the 30s and 40s, while the Southeast will see readings in the 70s and 80s. The Southern plains will see temperatures in the 80s and some 90s, while the Northwest will see 40s and 50s. Higher elevations will only rise into the 20s and 30s in the West. Temperatures in the lower 48 states on Saturday have ranged from a morning low of 6 degrees at Crane Lake, Minn., to a high of 89 degrees at Augusta Bush, Ga.
Sugar-cane harvesting in the main growing region in Brazil, the world's biggest sugar producer, may be delayed after above-average rainfall in the first weeks of March, according to ICAP Brasil.
"Rains in the first half of March were almost double the average of the last 10 years," Marcos Mine, head of the sugar and ethanol desk at ICAP Brasil, said by phone from Sao Paulo today. "This has already delayed the start in some mills."
The bulk of Brazil's cane crop is usually harvested between March and December in Center South, which accounts for about 90 percent of the country's output. Rainfall may also hamper sugar production at the beginning of the harvest, leading processors to make ethanol instead, according to Mine.
"Rains in the first half of March were almost double the average of the last 10 years," Marcos Mine, head of the sugar and ethanol desk at ICAP Brasil, said by phone from Sao Paulo today. "This has already delayed the start in some mills."
The bulk of Brazil's cane crop is usually harvested between March and December in Center South, which accounts for about 90 percent of the country's output. Rainfall may also hamper sugar production at the beginning of the harvest, leading processors to make ethanol instead, according to Mine.
Heavy rains lashed Kashmir and the authorities issued an warning that avalanche might strike many areas of the Vallery close to the mountain ranges.
"Medium danger avalanche alert has been sounded for higher reaches of Gurez, Baruab, Chakwali, Kanzalwan, Niru, Razdan Pass, Gugladara, Keran, Machil, Chowkibal, Tangdar and higher reaches of Gulmarg and Khilanmarg following the rainfall," Aamir Ali, Coordinator of the Disaster Management Cell, said.
He said low danger avalance warning exists for peaks of Drass and Kargil areas in Ladakh region.
"People living in the higher reaches of these areas have been advised to curtail their outdoor movement and not to venture into avalanche prone areas," Ali added.
Pahalgam in south Kashmir Anantnag district received the highest rainfall at 27.6 mm till 5.30 pm, an official of the MET department said.
"Medium danger avalanche alert has been sounded for higher reaches of Gurez, Baruab, Chakwali, Kanzalwan, Niru, Razdan Pass, Gugladara, Keran, Machil, Chowkibal, Tangdar and higher reaches of Gulmarg and Khilanmarg following the rainfall," Aamir Ali, Coordinator of the Disaster Management Cell, said.
He said low danger avalance warning exists for peaks of Drass and Kargil areas in Ladakh region.
"People living in the higher reaches of these areas have been advised to curtail their outdoor movement and not to venture into avalanche prone areas," Ali added.
Pahalgam in south Kashmir Anantnag district received the highest rainfall at 27.6 mm till 5.30 pm, an official of the MET department said.
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, which is the only surface link between Kashmir and rest of the country, was closed for vehicular traffic today due to a landslide triggered by heavy rains in Ramban district of Jammu & Kashmir today.
The 300-km-long highway was closed after landslides were triggered by heavy rains at Panthal in Ramban district this afternoon, senior superintendent of police, National Highway, Kifayat Haider said.
As a result of the landslides, about 100-150 vehicles are stranded on different stretches of the highway, he said.
Men and machines of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) are working to clear the landslide, he said.
The 300-km-long highway was closed after landslides were triggered by heavy rains at Panthal in Ramban district this afternoon, senior superintendent of police, National Highway, Kifayat Haider said.
As a result of the landslides, about 100-150 vehicles are stranded on different stretches of the highway, he said.
Men and machines of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) are working to clear the landslide, he said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) asked residents in one region and four provinces to brace for continuous heavy rains, which may trigger flash floods and landslides in these areas.
According to PAGASA, the wind convergence will continue to affect Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao today, bringing cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms.
It said rains will become widespread over Bicol Region, and the provinces of Dinagat Island, Samar, Leyte, and Surigao, which may cause flash floods and landslides.
According to PAGASA, the wind convergence will continue to affect Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao today, bringing cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms.
It said rains will become widespread over Bicol Region, and the provinces of Dinagat Island, Samar, Leyte, and Surigao, which may cause flash floods and landslides.
© Kent Porter / The Press Democrat
The afternoon crash in the mountains 70 miles east of Sacramento involved at least six big rigs and 15 vehicles, California Highway Patrol Sgt. Curtis Fouyer said.
A man who appeared to be in his 60s was found dead, but Fouyer did not know if he was in one of the vehicles crushed by a big rig. Other motorists called police to report they were trapped but uninjured.
"They're still pulling things apart to figure out what's where and get the cars moved," Fouyer said three hours after the crash near Yuba Gap, a popular weekend sledding destination.
