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Weekend storm to bring heavy snow, possible power outages - WFSB 3 Connecticut
 Weekend storm to bring heavy snow, possible power outages

By Brian Kowalenko Snow forecast by meteorologist Nick Morganelli. (CBS 3 Springfield) NOAA GOES 13 satellite captures a view of the eastern half of the U.S. on Friday, February 22, 2013 at 6:31AM EST. (NOAA NASA GOES Project) United express pilot takes a wrong way on an unplowed taxiway at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport Thursday, February 21, 2013 and gets stuck in the snow. Several people pitched in with shovels to help get the jet free. (CNN)

A massive winter storm that wreaked havoc across much of the Midwest Thursday and Friday is now expected to bring heavy, wet snow to much of New England this weekend.

CBS 3 Springfield meteorologist Nick Morganelli says upwards of 4 inches of snow could fall across western Massachusetts from Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning.

The storm system is expected to start out with a wintry mix across the region just after the lunch hour, with a period of freezing rain possible in southern and central Hampden county. Precipitation will change over to all snow throughout the region by late Saturday evening.

Morganelli says heavy, wet "cake frosting"-like snow may cause power outages by Sunday morning. Black ice could be an issue as the storm intensifies Saturday afternoon.

"Roads should only be wet as it begins, but after sunset Saturday they'll become slick," said Morganelli.

Total snowfall in southern and central Hampden county is expected to reach about 6 inches, kept down by freezing precipitation. North of the Mt. Holyoke range, 8 to 10 inches of snow is expected. The most snow should fall in Berkshire county the eastern hill towns, where a foot of fresh snow could accumulate by midday Sunday.

Read Nick's complete weekend weather outlook here.

Storm causes problems throughout Midwest

The winter storm that dumped a foot or more of snow in the central Plains has now moved eastward over the Great Lakes. Accidents and slide-offs have been widespread over the affected states.

Snow began falling in Detroit just in time for the morning rush, turning streets and freeways into a mess. In Chicago, the city's large fleet of snowplows salted and cleared the streets of three inches of snow, as commuters made their way to work.

About 270 flights in and out of Chicago's two airports were canceled this morning, and arrival delays of up to 90 minutes were reported. Airports in Kansas City and St. Louis have reopened, but there were numerous cancellations and delays at both. A United Airlines plane slid off a slick runway at the Cleveland airport and into a grassy area this morning. No injuries were reported.

Authorities in Minnesota blame the snow for over 200 accidents during the morning commute. One driver was killed when a vehicle lost control, slid into oncoming traffic and was broadsided in the St. Paul suburb of Eagan. In western Iowa, a woman died when she was run over by her car after it became stuck on her steep, slippery driveway.

The winter storm is part of a massive system that stretches down to the Gulf of Mexico, where it is drenching the coastline in subtropical downpours and has generated at least one confirmed tornado in Jefferson Davis, Mississippi.

The storm tore the roof off of a house in Clayton, Louisiana, according to the Sheriff's department, and damaged a second home. But the weather service has not reported a tornado there.

Flood warnings, watches and advisories line the system's path as it moves eastward, bringing rainfall from Louisiana to West Virginia.

Copyright 2013 WSHM (Meredith Corporation), The Associated Press and CNN. All rights reserved.




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