Killer Storm Heads Northeast

Arctic temperatures follow in blizzard's path

(NEWSER) - The good news is that skies are clearing in the Midwest after that brutal mess of a storm . The bad news is that Arctic-like temperatures will follow. Chicago, for instance, expects temperatures as cold as 15-below tonight, and that's without the wind-chill factor, reports the Tribune . The city registered 20.2 inches of snow, its third-largest total on record, and the hundreds of abandoned cars on Lake Shore Drive might be the enduring image of the storm. More»

Flood crests expected over weekend; snow blasts Minnesota, Chicago

(NEWSER) - Storms that caused flooding across the country's midsection have killed 16 people, and bad weather remains a threat, the AP reports. A snowstorm battering Minnesota and Illinois grounded hundreds of flights, and forecasters predicted a 9-inch total. Thousands were forced into shelters as rivers continued to swell; in many states, floodwaters might not crest until the weekend. More»

Woman spotted his hand with her binoculars; he's doing fine

(NEWSER) - Here's one great story emerging from the week's brutal blizzard: An alert neighbor and her trusty pair of binoculars saved the life of a 66-year-old Wisconsin man who was buried under snow for four hours, reports AOL News . Joe Latta's ordeal began about 5am when he trudged out his driveway to get the mail but got overwhelmed by the fierce wind and snow. He fell, got quickly covered by drifts, and couldn't get up, which was bad. After about an hour, a plow came along and covered him in packed snow, which was worse. More»

Lake Shore Drive closed, 24-foot swells on Lake Michigan...

(NEWSER) - One-third of the country is covered in snow , but the storm hammering Chicago is especially intense. What they’re dealing with, courtesy of the Tribune , Sun-Times , and the San Francisco Chronicle :

• Hundreds of motorists and bus riders were stranded last night and early this morning on Lake Shore Drive due to snow, ice, and whiteout conditions; while many were rescued after five hours or so, some reported being trapped for as many as nine hours. The Drive was completely closed around 7:50pm, as officials tried to clear abandoned vehicles from the paths of plows, buses, and salt trucks.
• Though official reports claim drivers were urged to stay in their cars, “Lake Shore Drive” quickly became a trending topic on Twitter as users tweeted that people were being told to leave their cars in order to avoid danger from Lake Michigan’s 24-foot swells.

Monster storm bears down on Midwest

(AP) - Layers of dangerous ice and blowing snow closed roads and airports from Texas to Rhode Island as a monster storm began bearing down on the nation and those in its frigid path started to believe it would live up to its hype. Ice fell first and was expected to be followed by up to two feet of snow in some places, including Chicago. In St. Louis, the NHL had to cancel tonight's game. Making matters worse was the expectation of brutal cold and winds gusting to near 60 mph. More»