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Storm Brings White Christmas to Much of the US

by Associated Press

   CHICAGO --

   If you live in the Northeast or Midwest, you're not dreaming: It's
   probably going to be a white Christmas.

   But the trade-off is hazardous driving conditions across New England
   and the Great Plains. Out west, the Rocky Mountains have been pounded
   this weekend.
   The storm system attacking the Mississippi River and to the east
   started in Nebraska, swept across Iowa and will dump several inches of
   snow on Chicago. Aside from a lake-effect dump of as much as 4 inches
   (10 centimeters), accumulation in the nation's third-largest city will
   be slightly less than predicted, said Ricky Castro, a meteorologist
   with the National Weather Service. It's headed for the East Coast
   Sunday night to dump more through midday on Christmas.
   It's a welcome site for snow-lovers in a season short of it -- just
   more than 2 inches (5 centimeters) fell previously in Chicago, Castro
   said.
   "It's a more wintry feel for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, with a
   cold week ahead, Castro said.

   Travel hazardous

   No injuries or deaths had been reported because of the weather, but
   travel was hazardous. Most of Indiana was under winter weather advisory
   with officials urging motorists to stay put unless they absolutely had
   to travel. Northern Indiana was expecting up to 5 inches (13
   centimeters) with slightly less in the southern part of the state.
   O'Hare and Midway international airports in Chicago were reporting
   minor delays averaging 15 minutes. Arriving flights at O'Hare were
   delayed by an average of 80 minutes by late afternoon Sunday. Detroit
   Metropolitan Wayne County Airport was experiencing gate delays of about
   15 minutes.
   Into New England

   New England could get up to 8 inches (20 centimeters) of snow.
   Forecasters say the storm will sweep across the region late Sunday
   until midday on Christmas. Strong winds are predicted for
   Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island with gusts up to 65 mph
   (105 kph).
   "Along the coast, New York could end up with wet snow, but areas inland
   could see substantial snowfall," Castro said.

   A foot of snow out West

   Mountain areas in parts of Colorado, Montana and Wyoming received more
   than 1 foot (30 centimeters) of snow, which started Saturday. It was
   good news for holiday skiers and resorts, which have struggled with a
   slow start this season.
   But it meant a heightened warning of avalanches in higher elevations
   outside of ski areas.
   In Washington state, forecasters said 1 to 3 inches of snow could be on
   the ground by Christmas morning in parts of the state.