TEXAS
Texas has already been hit with snow, but now comes the worry of more snow as well as ice and freezing rain. Dallas is facing the likelihood of gridlock and shutdown tomorrow (Friday, December 6).
Texas Governor Rick Perry activated the Texas National Guard to bring emergency supplies to Wichita Falls and Sherman, and the Texas Dept. of Public Safety says that travel is not recommended in the affected areas.
OKLAHOMA
The entire state of Oklahoma is being placed under various storm warnings and advisories throughout the course of winter storm Cleon.
The entire south central and southeastern parts of the state are under an ice storm warning through 6 p.m. Friday due to an expected 3/4" of ice. Other areas of Oklahoma are expected to get up to 6 inches of snow.
ARKANSAS
Starting at 6 p.m. today, Arkansas will be under a NWS ice storm warning in effect for the Interstate 40 corridor and other areas. The warning will remain in effect through 6 p.m. Friday. The warning includes Little Rock, Arkansas, and it stretches from the western border to the eastern border, covering most of the state.
Currently, much of the state is experiencing rain. By later this afternoon, the rain will change over to freezing rain. It's important to take extreme care while driving home from work, and if possible, park your vehicles in a garage to prevent your doors and windows from being frozen shut in the morning.
KENTUCKY
If you were saving your grocery shopping for the weekend, you might be in trouble. The anticipation of extreme ice and snow has already led many area residents to stock up on supplies, leaving many grocery store shelves empty.
Stock up immediately and get home before it hits. You don't want to be one of the only people taking your chances driving from store to store trying to find something for dinner.
MISSOURI
Dramatic change is the story here. Missouri had just been experiencing beautiful spring-like weather when a sudden onset of bitter cold, snow, sleet, and freezing rain pummeled the area. The southwestern part of Missouri are expected to get up to 8 inches of snow by tomorrow evening with highs reaching only into the 30s.
Just yesterday, many of these areas were experiencing highs in the 60s, so the dramatic 30 degree change came literally overnight.
ILLINOIS
After just being hit by tornadoes, some small town areas of southern Illinois are praying they aren't hit by the winter storm as cleanup efforts are still unfinished.
In some areas, cleanup efforts are having to be put on halt while water lines are covered to prevent freezing and city workers prepare to treat the roads.
COLORADO
While some parts of the state are experiencing ice and snow, the northwestern part of the state is seeing a dramatic drop in temperature to nearly 30 degrees below zero.
No major highway closures have been reported yet, but these bitter cold temperatures pose seriously dangerous conditions for those wishing to travel.
NEW MEXICO
With some school closures and delays, the Department of Transportation has stated that Interstate 25 between Colmor and Raton, as well as between Rowe and Watrous, will have very difficult travel conditions because of moderate snowfall.
MINNESOTA
The winter storm warning associated with Winter Storm Cleon has ended for Minnesota, but not before causing plenty of havoc. Many parts of the state were covered in 2-3 feet of snow. Hundreds of accidents occurred as a result of the storm, and half a dozen fatal car wrecks took place since Monday. The Great Lakes harbor town of Duluth, Minnesota was covered in over a foot and a half of snow.
City road crews for Duluth worked 16-hour shifts clearing snow the last three days. This is an area where
single-stage snow blowers may not be enough.
Three-stage snow blowers are great for situations like this where you may find a mountain of plowed snow at the end of your drive.
UTAH
Southern and eastern Utah got hit pretty hard by Winter Storm Cleon as it dropped around 30 inches of snow on parts of the state. The storm led several dozen drivers to slide off the road and get into accidents. 27 crashes were reported by Tuesday afternoon.
MONTANA
Near Great Falls, Montana, as Winter Storm Cleon swept into the area, a four-vehicle pile-up resulted in the death of a 21-year-old woman. While the storm may have passed, the driving conditions may not be favorable, and extreme cold temperatures pose a serious risk for anyone who's not prepared. Temperatures have dropped to more than 20 degrees below zero, and officials are warning residents to take precautions and stay indoors whenever possible. The temperature drop poses the risk of frostbite.
WYOMING
The storm has moved on from the area, but not without leaving residents with less-than-desirable conditions. Major highways are still open, but poor driving conditions led to several vehicle accidents yesterday. Bone-chilling cold effects the entire state. Laramie is expected to get wind chill temperatures as low as 50 degrees below zero. Several areas throughout the mountains in the western and the central parts of the state saw snow in excess of 1 to 2 feet. People in these areas deserve to treat themselves to a
mid-grade two-stage snow blower. A couple feet of snow is quite the chore to shovel, and even quite the chore for an electric or single-stage snow thrower.
Stay warm and stay dry, and take every precaution with the extreme cold temperatures this next week.
If you're in need of a snow blower, check out
Snow Blowers Direct. For those effected by power outages,
Electric Generators Direct has many models in stock and ready to be shipped. And as always, experts are standing by, ready to help you with any questions or concerns you may have.
