[November 26, 2013]LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A winter
storm system that hit parts of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas swept toward
the densely populated East Coast on Tuesday, threatening to disrupt the
plans of travelers ahead of the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
The large system has already struck parts of Arkansas, Oklahoma
and Texas, but with temperatures creeping above freezing the outcome
was less dramatic than forecasters had feared as it crossed the
nation's midsection.
The storm sprung out of the West and has been blamed for at least 11
deaths, half of them in Texas. It limped across Arkansas with a
smattering of snow, sleet and freezing rain that didn't meet
expectations.
"It's just really cold. We had drizzle but no snow," said Courtney
O'Neal-Walden, an owner of the Dairyette diner on U.S. 270 in Mount
Ida, Ark. "You can see (ice) on the power lines but the roads are
fine."
She said ominous warnings of a winter storm kept most people in —
though schools remained open — and few stopped by the diner for
Monday's $5.99 special of popcorn shrimp, fries and a medium drink.
But the system packed plenty of punch as it moved eastward.
John Robinson, the warning coordination meteorologist at the
National Weather Service in North Little Rock, said winter storm
warnings were issued for parts of the eastern half of the United
States through Wednesday afternoon.
Some of the country's busiest airports — New York, Washington, D.C.,
Philadelphia, Boston and Charlotte, N.C. — could see big delays at
one of the peak travel times of the year.
This holiday will likely see the most air travelers since 2007,
according to Airlines for America, the industry's trade and lobbying
group, with the busiest day being Sunday, an estimated 2.56 million
passengers. Wednesday is expected to be the second-busiest with 2.42
million passengers.
Ninety percent of travelers this week will drive, according to AAA,
and an estimated 38.9 million people — 1.6 percent fewer than last
year — are expected to drive 50 miles or more from their home.
In New Jersey, officials advised travelers to check with their
airlines and reduce speed on highways as a winter weather advisory
was set to take effect shortly before midday across the state's
northwest areas.
Meanwhile, forecasters were predicting 5 to 8 inches of snow in
Buffalo, more in the northern Adirondacks, and a winter storm watch
was posted for central New York state with heavy rain expected in
parts of the Hudson Valley.
In the nation's capital, federal agencies opened Tuesday though the
National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for the
northern and western suburbs of Washington, D.C., and Baltimore,
amid forecasts of a light mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain that
could be topped off by heavy rain.
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management, which sets leave policies
for 300,000 federal workers in Washington, said that while
government was open Tuesday, employees could take unscheduled leave
or unscheduled telework.
Parts of the Southeast also were bracing, with a freezing rain
advisory in effect for parts of South Carolina.
Jeff Smidt hopes to travel from his home in Toronto on Wednesday to
visit his family near Boston. He plans to drive if he cannot fly.
"My understanding is that I'm traveling at like the worst time
ever," Smidt said. He tried to change his JetBlue reservation to get
on an earlier flight but was told the airline wasn't waiving any
change fees yet.
"Worst comes to worst, it will be an eight-hour trek down Interstate
90," he said.
Associated Press writers
Scott Mayerowitz in New York City; John Raby in Charleston, W.Va.;
and Diana Heidgerd and David Warren in Dallas contributed to this
report.
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