Snowstorm's Effects Linger Across U.S.

From Arkansas To Maine, Crews Rush To Clean Roads As Workweek Approaches

(CBS/AP)  Effects from a bruiser of a winter storm that dumped a foot or more of snow on states from Arkansas to Maine were still being felt early Monday, with crews working to restore power and clear roads.

The storm made roads slippery and snow-covered in western New York and caused flooding that closed roads in other parts of the state. Adding to the misery Sunday night were high wind and falling temperatures creating brisk wind chills. Tens of thousands were left without electricity from the storm.

Northern Maine also got heavy snow while in the southern part of the state the problem was rain.

At least 10 weather-related deaths had been reported Sunday night.

In Ohio, four men died while shoveling snow, and one person was killed in a traffic accident in the state. Two traffic deaths were blamed on the storm in western New York state and one in Tennessee. Two people were killed Friday in Florida by tornadoes.

The storm dumped a record 20-plus inches of snow on Columbus, Ohio.

Snow plows and cleanup crews worked overtime Sunday as the state continued to dig out in time for the start of the work week.

Crews cleared most areas where drifting was a problem along major highways, and state officials vowed to work through Monday to scrape all snow down to the pavement to allow for additional salt treatments.

Ohio commuters heading back to work were still urged to use caution.

"We'll have slick spots out there," said Mary Carran Webster, the city's assistant public service director.

The late-winter storm dumped more than 20 inches of snow on Columbus, while blizzard conditions shut down highways and stranded air travelers over the weekend.

Columbus public schools and other central Ohio districts were to be closed Monday. Ohio State University planned to hold classes but warned that parking would be more difficult than usual. Parking lots are plowed but not down to the pavement, and garage ramps are slippery, officials said.

Cleanup crews also were busy in Cleveland and Cincinnati, which each received about a foot of snow.

"The first 10 minutes of snow is nice, then it goes real sour," said David Sabens, a Case Western Reserve University student who was trying on Sunday to dig his car out.

Youngstown was also recovering from the storm, which helped the city break last year's record for seasonal snowfall. The city has seen 94.3 inches of snow so far this winter.

In downtown Cincinnati, crews hauled piles of snow away by dump truck. Most school superintendents in the area were waiting until early Monday morning to decide on school closures in hopes that road and weather conditions would continue to improve overnight.

The Ohio Emergency Management Agency continued to monitor the cleanup around the state, but no counties had declared an emergency nor were there any requests for state assistance.

The storm, which rolled over the Midwest Friday before battering the East Coast, had arrived on the other side of the Atlantic Monday morning, prompting residents of Great Britain to tie their boats up securely and brace themselves for what weather officials predicted would be the U.K.'s worst storm of the winter.

Wind gusts over 80 miles an hour were hammering the southwest coasts of England and Wales. The storm was intensifying as Briton's woke up and prepared for what promised to be a vicious morning rush hour.

Flooding was reported in the southwest counties of Cornwall and Devon, where the winds were combining with high Spring tides to inundate costal communities.

As far east as London, crews were working quickly in the driving rain to clear fallen trees from roadways before the morning commute.

[s1ckd09]

I%u2019m appalled at the governor%u2019s lack of response to the global warming snow and ice storms. We have no comprehensive strategy in place whatsoever, let alone a detailed plan of action to mitigate these storms, and mother earth continues to suffer while the governor%u2019s office is out to lunch.
.
We the people call upon the governor to implement a comprehensive antiglobal warming strategy at once and work in coordination with state and federal officials; these hazardous conditions and these awful storms continue to worsen and the quicker we stop the warming the sooner we will see these storms decrease. We need action now.

-------------------------------------------

Posted by AL2008 at 01:35 PM : Mar 10, 2008

Forgive me if I don''t see it, but is this a joke? I only ask because I know some people would say this kind of thing seriously, even though it defies all logic.

[al2008-2009]

I%u2019m appalled at the governor%u2019s lack of response to the global warming snow and ice storms. We have no comprehensive strategy in place whatsoever, let alone a detailed plan of action to mitigate these storms, and mother earth continues to suffer while the governor%u2019s office is out to lunch.
.
We the people call upon the governor to implement a comprehensive antiglobal warming strategy at once and work in coordination with state and federal officials; these hazardous conditions and these awful storms continue to worsen and the quicker we stop the warming the sooner we will see these storms decrease. We need action now.