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American Morning
Winter Tightens Grip on Nation
Aired January 26, 2004 - 07:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Winter tightened its grip on the nation, from the Midwest to the East Coast, more than a dozen people now killed in weather related car accidents. Sleet and ice have made for very treacherous driving in Missouri. Icy conditions have caused dozens of lights to be canceled in Kansas City. In Ohio, the heaviest snowfall of the season blanketed southern and central parts of the state. Cincinnati was hit with up to seven inches of snow overnight.
North Carolina's governor declared a state of emergency after snow and ice crippled the state. Four people died in weather related accidents. And it is going to be a nasty rush hour in the nation's capital this morning. Weather there not good.
Elaine Quijano is live in Washington, D.C. for us this morning -- Elaine, good morning.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Soledad.
Well, sloppy and slow, but the city is certainly not shut down. That is the headline here out of Washington, D.C. Here on the National Mall, we measured just a short time ago about four inches fell here overnight, certainly making for a messy commute, as you said. But also a picturesque kind of setting. If you want to take a look now, we'll show you the White House looking very much like a postcard today on a January morning.
But, of course, out on the area roads, a different story. Anything but pretty for the travelers that are hitting, the commuters that are going out there now, very slow going, although the streets, we are told, are passable. Road crews in the Washington metro area have been out since yesterday trying to stay ahead of this storm. The heaviest snow, as I said, fell overnight and it has tapered off, really, for the most part, this morning.
However, the city still very much feeling the effects. The federal government is open, but its liberal leave policy is in place. Many schools in the area, fortunately, were already closed because of a teacher institute day. However, many of the private schools now closing because of the snow, as well.
Also, we want to tell you about airport delays between here and Philadelphia. At last word, airport delays running about half an hour to two hours for those routes between here and Philadelphia.
The good news is snow has tapered off. Bad news is sleet and freezing rain could be on the way tonight -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Elaine Quijano for us this morning.
Elaine, thanks.
And it looks pretty behind you, Elaine, but also a little messy and cold.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired January 26, 2004 - 07:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Winter tightened its grip on the nation, from the Midwest to the East Coast, more than a dozen people now killed in weather related car accidents. Sleet and ice have made for very treacherous driving in Missouri. Icy conditions have caused dozens of lights to be canceled in Kansas City. In Ohio, the heaviest snowfall of the season blanketed southern and central parts of the state. Cincinnati was hit with up to seven inches of snow overnight.
North Carolina's governor declared a state of emergency after snow and ice crippled the state. Four people died in weather related accidents. And it is going to be a nasty rush hour in the nation's capital this morning. Weather there not good.
Elaine Quijano is live in Washington, D.C. for us this morning -- Elaine, good morning.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Soledad.
Well, sloppy and slow, but the city is certainly not shut down. That is the headline here out of Washington, D.C. Here on the National Mall, we measured just a short time ago about four inches fell here overnight, certainly making for a messy commute, as you said. But also a picturesque kind of setting. If you want to take a look now, we'll show you the White House looking very much like a postcard today on a January morning.
But, of course, out on the area roads, a different story. Anything but pretty for the travelers that are hitting, the commuters that are going out there now, very slow going, although the streets, we are told, are passable. Road crews in the Washington metro area have been out since yesterday trying to stay ahead of this storm. The heaviest snow, as I said, fell overnight and it has tapered off, really, for the most part, this morning.
However, the city still very much feeling the effects. The federal government is open, but its liberal leave policy is in place. Many schools in the area, fortunately, were already closed because of a teacher institute day. However, many of the private schools now closing because of the snow, as well.
Also, we want to tell you about airport delays between here and Philadelphia. At last word, airport delays running about half an hour to two hours for those routes between here and Philadelphia.
The good news is snow has tapered off. Bad news is sleet and freezing rain could be on the way tonight -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Elaine Quijano for us this morning.
Elaine, thanks.
And it looks pretty behind you, Elaine, but also a little messy and cold.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
