Icy weather ushers in 2007 in mid U.S. by Sean Batty
As glitter fluttered down on Times Square in New York to welcome in 2007, massive search parties were still on in many mid U.S. states to find people stranded in icy conditions, which have lasted since Thursday.
Over the last week we have reported on the ongoing situation after many mid U.S. states were pummeled by heavy snow during the festive period.
The second snowstorm in a week hit on Thursday blanketing many states. Even though the snow has slowly eased since then the icy conditions have remained and many people are still without power, five days on from the event.
It was reported in local press that the National Weather Service have said that this storm "was very significant; it's in the record books".
National Guard troops had to rescue 44 people in the foothills west of Denver, Colorado with over 2 feet of snow falling here on Thursday and Friday.
After a snowstorm which hit during Christmas and this latest addition, Colorado has been turned into a frosty, icy barren landscape, where certain highways are buried and can only be followed by lines of telegraph poles.
Over the last few days Kansas and Colorado have sent out dozens of small aircraft to search for stranded drivers and also to drop hay in fields for the livestock.
Kansas is reported to have been slammed with 15-32 inches (38-81cm)of snow in places and 15 feet drifts (over 4.5 metres), again paralysing many areas.
Further south the Oklahoma Panhandle measured up to 18 inches (46cm) of snow, which brought down power lines, cutting electricity to thousands in the northwest of the state.
Latest reports show that ten people have been killed in traffic accidents in Colorado, Texas and Minnesota, while another person was killed in Texas by a ravaging tornado, spawned by the storm. Another person in Kansas was killed after the electricity cut off and the generator failed to come on.
On a lighter note a couple in Loveland, Colorado are so sick of the snow which has been dumped on their house in the last week that they are selling it on eBay. They do hope that the successful bidder will live fairly close by so they can avoid the shipping costs and can collect it in person!
The weather is set to get warmer across all affected states over the next few days, before a short quick cold snap again later in the week, which could bring yet more snow.
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