Rare Christmas Snow Blanketing the South
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The snowstorm that will strengthen into a blizzard across the Northeast Sunday into Monday will first continue to provide a rare white Christmas to the South.
The snow in the South is doing more than making an appearance. The ground and roadways across the region are getting covered.
This Christmas Day started with a couple of inches of snow whitening northern Mississippi. The snow will spread eastward through the Carolinas tonight.
In Raleigh and Charlotte heavier snow will come down through tonight and leave around 3 inches.
At least an inch of snow will accumulate tonight as far south as Columbia, S.C.
For the latest snowfall accumulations, check out the AccuWeather.com Winter Weather Center.
As AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Katie Storbeck said early on Christmas morning, "Many will view the snow as a rare treat for Christmas, but the wintry weather will cause trouble for those traveling."
Early on Christmas, numerous accidents occurred in Courtland, Ala., as roads became impassible due to the snow.
More roads will turn treacherous through tonight. This includes portions of interstates 26, 40, 59, 77 and 85.
Even farther south and west, where snow has ended across northern Mississippi and the Tennessee Valley, colder air surging in will allow any wet or slushy spots on roadways to freeze.
Airline passengers will not fare much better. The Associated Press reports that Delta Air Lines canceled 300 of today's 800 scheduled departures from Atlanta.
The snow will eventually taper off across eastern North Carolina on Sunday, while snow showers persist across the southern Appalachian Mountains.
In the wake of the snowstorm, a bitter blast of cold air and frigid winds will grip the entire South Sunday into Monday. In areas where melting of the snow occurs, there could be issues with black ice into the start of the week.
Christmas fun in the snow in Ellijay, Ga.! Sepcial thanks to AccuWeather.com Facebook Fan Jenny J. If you have a photo, feel free to share it on our AccuWeather.com Facebook Page.
Content contributed by AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Meghan Evans.
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Daily U.S. Extremes
past 24 hours
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | 107° | Death Valley, CA |
| Low | 28° | Daniel, WY |
| Precip | 2.39" | Alexandria, MN |
WeatherWhys®
People need to pay close attention to the UV index during this time of year. On a sunny day late in the spring and into the summer, the UV is usually at least an 8, which is very high. Readings over 11 are considered extreme values in which only 10 minutes of full exposure to the sun will produce a sunburn.
This Day In Weather History
New Hampshire (1814)
A tornado crossed Merrimac, Litchfield, Londonderry and North Chester. The same storm produced hailstones that had an 11-inch circumference and weighed 1/2 pound.
Northeast (1989)
More rain in an already wet month. Monthly totals topped 11 inches at New York City, 9 inches at Bridgeport, Conn., and 8 inches at Baltimore (all three totals set records for May).
Rough Weather
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