South Jolted by Snow Again

Snowfall and freezing temperatures spread deep into the South on Tuesday, keeping kids home from school and icing up the morning commute. <br><br>Temperatures fell to freezing levels as far south as Mobile,

Tuesday, December 19th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Snowfall and freezing temperatures spread deep into the South on Tuesday, keeping kids home from school and icing up the morning commute.

Temperatures fell to freezing levels as far south as Mobile, Ala., and snow fell along the Appalachians from Canada into Georgia.

Atlanta got 3 inches of snow overnight and Delta Air Lines canceled 50 to 75 percent of its morning flights out of Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport. The snow quickly melted to slush but a blast of colder air was expected to turn it to ice later in the day.

Schools were closed because of slippery roads in parts of Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee. South Carolina Gov. Jim Hodges closed state offices in some counties and told others to open late.

Snow isn't unheard of in Georgia â€” a coating fell on Sunday â€” but it was a revelation to Lannette Birtwistle's 10- and 12-year-old sons, because the family just moved to the Atlanta suburbs from South Florida. The boys were ready to go out and play as soon as the sun was up.

``You should see them. They're all bundled up with everything in the house,'' said Birtwistle. ``It's very new to them. This is more exciting than a party to them.''

Not so Mona Jones of Hamilton, in central Georgia, who was content to look at the snow from inside, by her fire. ``The yard is just white; it's just a covering,'' she said.

Up to 5 inches of snow accumulated overnight in the mountains of western North Carolina.

``We're having wrecks like crazy,'' Macon County, N.C., emergency dispatcher Mike Lequire said Tuesday morning.

Meteorologists warned that temperatures in northern Georgia would stay in the 20s all day Tuesday before falling into the teens or lower during the night. And there was another chance of snow in Atlanta late Thursday and early Friday, with flurries possible on Christmas Eve.

``Right now we're in a wintry pattern,'' said Frank Taylor of the National Weather Service in Peachtree City.

Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee declared disaster areas in 41 counties nearly a week after what state officials said was the worst ice storm in state history. Tens of thousands of customers were still without power Monday.

``I've just been quilting by the light of the window during the day and go to bed when it gets dark,'' said Kitty Watson, 73, whose home has been without electricity since last week. ``And my goodness, I must've gained 10 pounds in the past week cause you know, you bake when you're bored.''

Elsewhere, much of the Midwest was getting a breather after its fourth snowstorm in a week, but more was on the way.

``It will be a brief reprieve,'' said meteorologist Tom Zajdel in Wisconsin. ``Very brief.''

Close to a foot of snow fell Monday in parts of Wisconsin, closing schools and roads, and temperatures rose only into the teens.

Milwaukee had 10.5 inches of snow by Tuesday morning, bringing its total for the month so far to a record 32.7. The city's old December record was 30.7 inches, set in 1951.

``I can run faster than the buses are running, and I'm 59 years old,'' Fred Trestle said as he waited for a downtown bus in Milwaukee.

In Nebraska, low visibility caused by blowing snow closed two highways Monday and slick roads and poor visibility were blamed for a pileup involving five trucks, two cars and a snowplow. Only minor injuries were reported.

Monday's storm was a nightmare for travelers. Nearly a quarter of the flights at Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee were canceled or delayed Monday and more than 100 Northwest flights were delayed in and out of Minneapolis-St. Paul.

United and American airlines canceled more than 100 flights at Chicago's O'Hare International.

â€”â€”â€”

Disaster Supplies Kit

A warm coat, gloves or mittens, hat and water-resistant boots for each member of the family

Extra blankets and warm clothing

Nonclumping kitty litter will generate
temporary traction on ice and snow. Rock salt will melt ice on walkways but can damage vegetation and concrete.

A portable, battery-powered radio or television and extra batteries

Flashlight and extra batteries

First aid kit and first aid manual

Supply of prescription medications

Credit card and cash

Personal identification

An extra set of car keys

Matches in a waterproof container

Signal flare

Map of the area and phone numbers of places you could go

Special needs, for example, diapers or formula, prescription medicines and copies of prescriptions, hearing aid batteries, spare wheelchair battery, spare eyeglasses, or other physical needs

Source: National Disaster Education Coalition

On the Net:

National Weather Service: http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov