While families all around Las Vegas were enjoying the rare occasion of snowfall, making snow angels and snowmen, people in other parts of the country may not be so enchanted by the weather during the next several days.
Two winter storms have hit Las Vegas in four days as the nation experiences a host of snowstorms that forecasters say could be the worst week in weather for the 2008/2009-winter season.
Three inches are on the ground in some parts of Las Vegas Valley, while Henderson Valley has received 7-8 inches, which is largest accumulation of snow in Las Vegas since 1979 when 7.8 inches of snow fell.
McCarran Airport, fashioned with over 1,000 slot machines for their visitors, didn’t have snow removal equipment.
As a result, little could be done to clear the snow off the runways, causing delays. In addition to air-travel, several highways leading into the area, including California roads, were closed as a result of snow accumulation, causing disturbances and delays for road-traveling Las Vegas visitors.
Approximately 8,000 homes were without power in some areas in the valley, and several school districts were closed.
The storms in Vegas preview what much of the country is expecting leading up to the Christmas holiday: ice and snow.
Thursday the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for parts of 16 states in the Northeast and Midwest, including the entire New York metropolitan area. Winter storm warnings were in effect for parts of the Northwest U.S., and ice storm warnings were issued for parts of seven states in the Midwest.
Those specific warnings expire Saturday, but the forecast includes severe weather likely to cause problems through Dec. 24.
Holiday travelers going home or heading for vacation may find that frozen stuff on roads and runways complicating their plans. Flight delays, traffic jams, and power outages all threaten the holiday cheer.
