The temperature in Gainesville topped 70 for the second straight day Thursday, the high was 73 (18 degrees above average for the date), and it marked the ninth straight day of highs in the 60s or 70s. The low was 60, 24 degrees above average. The record high for the date, 76, was set in 1970; the record low, 16, in 1955.
Blustery weather moved in overnight in northeast Georgia - steady to heavy raines, more mild temperatures and gusty winds. That's expected to give way, however, throughout the day to clearing skies, windy weather, and falling temperatures falling into the 40s by nightfall.
Meanwhile, there is a wind advisory in effect for most of Georgia, including Gainesville and surrounding areas, until 4:00 Friday afternoon. Gusts of 40 mph or more are possible, mainly in higher elevations. Elsewhere, sustained winds of 20-35 mph are expected.
SNOW, BITTER COLD ELSEWHERE
The first major snowstorm of the season blew across the Plains and Midwest on Thursday, grounding hundreds of flights, closing schools, glazing highways and threatening to dump up to a foot of snow on communities that had basked in balmy weather only days earlier.
The wintry weather spread across an area stretching from Texas and Oklahoma to Michigan, and a blizzard warning was posted in parts of Oklahoma.
Clay Ender, who works for a heating service company, struggled to get around in the 3 inches of snow that fell overnight in Lubbock, Texas. A trip across the city that usually takes 20 minutes stretched to an hour, he said.
"There were so many cars spinning out of control," he said. "They couldn't get any traction."
The system roared through the Northwest and Rockies earlier in the week. Coming on the heels of near-record high temperatures, it rolled through Kansas on Wednesday, coating tree limbs and power lines with half an inch of ice. By Thursday, the storm was moving northeast from Oklahoma on the way to Illinois.
Sleet, snow and freezing rain forced the cancellation of 200 flights out of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and closed some schools. In the Texas Panhandle, roads were covered with ice and up to 7 inches of snow.
Northern Oklahoma expected to receive 8 to 12 inches of snow, while parts of Illinois prepared for 6 to 12 inches. Varying amounts were also forecast for Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas.
An Oklahoma man was killed Thursday when his vehicle skidded out of control on an icy road and hit an oncoming tractor-trailer, police said.
In Tulsa, Okla., customers raided hardware and convenience stores for storm supplies because of 6 inches of snow in the forecast.
"It's shovels, ice melts and sleds, and forget the rest," said John Swinney, manager at Swinney's Hardware. "It's about the biggest one that's hit here in a long time."
In Springfield, Mo., freezing rain and sleet knocked out power to 15,000 customers, and the forecast called for snow and high winds.
"It will get worse before it gets better," said Ernest DeCamp, a spokesman for the city's utility.
At Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, more than 400 flights were canceled for Friday, allowing customers more time to change their travel plans.
"I think most people would rather stay home, sleep in a nice warm bed and reschedule their flights for another time," said United Airlines spokeswoman Robin Urbanski.
In the city, 270 salt spreaders stood ready to hit the roads.
"It looks like it's going to get messy," said Tim Halbach, a meteorologist in the suburb of Romeoville. "There could be times where some areas see 2 inches of snow per hour."
(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)
http://accesswdun.com/article/2006/12/99413