BLIZZARD WARNING
Warning Issue Date: 520 AM CST FRI DEC 25 2009
...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST SATURDAY...
* HEAVY SNOW WILL CONTINUE FOR MUCH OF THE DAY AND POSSIBLY INTO
TONIGHT...WITH SNOWFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES AN HOUR AT TIMES.
* STORM TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO REACH CLOSE TO 2
FEET...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE.
* EAST TO NORTHEAST WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH
WILL CONTINUE NEAR LAKE SUPERIOR TODAY INTO TONIGHT.
* ROAD CONDITIONS WILL REMAIN HAZARDOUS TODAY AND TONIGHT. THE
COMBINATION OF SIGNIFICANT BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WILL RESULT
IN WHITE OUT CONDITIONS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR ROAD CREWS TO
KEEP EXPOSED SECTIONS OF ROADWAY CLEAR FOR MORE THAN BRIEF
PERIODS OF TIME.
* THE MOST SEVERE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TODAY...WHEN 1 TO 2
INCH PER HOUR SNOWFALL ACCUMULATION RATES AND VERY STRONG
WINDS WILL CREATE WHITEOUT CONDITIONS. IT CANNOT BE STRESSED
ENOUGH THAT TRAVEL OVERNIGHT AND ON CHRISTMAS DAY WILL BE
EXTREMELY DANGEROUS...AND PERHAPS IMPOSSIBLE.
* THE STRONG WINDS MAY ALSO BLOW DOWN TREES AND POWER LINES...
RESULTING IN SOME POWER OUTAGES TODAY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE AND LIFE-THREATENING WINTER
WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED. ANY TRAVEL IS STRONGLY
DISCOURAGED. IF YOU CHOOSE TO TRAVEL...YOU MAY BE RISKING YOUR
LIFE. BE AWARE THAT YOU MAY BECOME STRANDED AND THAT IT COULD
TAKE MANY HOURS FOR HELP TO ARRIVE. KEEP A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT IN
YOUR VEHICLE...INCLUDING A FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...AND WATER. LET
SOMEONE KNOW YOUR TRAVEL ROUTE AND EXPECTED ARRIVAL TIME AND HAVE
A WORKING CELL PHONE IN CASE YOU BECOME STRANDED. IF YOU BECOME
STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE AND USE IT AS A SHELTER. MANY
DEATHS OCCUR IN BLIZZARDS WHEN PEOPLE LEAVE THEIR VEHICLES TRYING
TO SEEK HELP.
IT SHOULD ALSO BE EMPHASIZED THIS STORM WILL AFFECT A VERY LARGE
PART OF THE CENTRAL UNITED STATES...INCLUDING MINNESOTA...MUCH OF
THE DAKOTAS...IOWA AND WISCONSIN. ANYONE WITH HOLIDAY TRAVEL
PLANS ACROSS THE REGION IS URGED TO STAY CURRENT WITH THE LATEST
WEATHER INFORMATION REGARDING THIS DEVELOPING STORM.
$$
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