Winter Storm Moves Across the Country

A heavy snowstorm that has closed highways in five states continued to move across the Southwest and Great Plains on Tuesday, the Associated Press reported.

Blizzard conditions left parts of Interstate 40 and Interstate 70 impassible in New Mexico, Kansas and Texas.
In northern New Mexico, all roads from Raton to the Texas and Oklahoma borders were closed, AP said. New Mexico also closed part of Interstate 25.

In Kansas, roadways were closed in the western and southwestern parts of the state,

Around Oklahoma, snow drifts up to 4 feet high made highways impassable, said Cliff White, emergency management coordinator for Cimarron County, Oklahoma.

In eastern Colorado, a prisoner and a corrections officer were killed when the driver of a van transporting nine prisoners lost control on Interstate 70, authorities said.

Snow Hits New Mexico and El Paso, TX

A severe and early winter storm has struck most of New Mexico, closing schools and shutting down major highways across the state.

Motorists sought emergency shelter overnight as state officials closed both directions of Interstate 40 from Albuquerque to Gallup -- part of the historic Route 66 -- after blowing snow caused near-zero visibility.

Authorities also shut down Interstate 10 in the southern part of the state, from the Texas line to the Arizona border, because of heavy snow and icy road conditions.

The storm was the third to hit the state recently and spread heavy snow throughout northern and southern New Mexico. It forced school districts to close or end classes early Monday.

Southern New Mexico also got hit, this is a region usually spared the worst of winter blasts. Crews worked to clear snow and salted icy roadways in the region, especially around Lordsburg, Silver City, Socorro, Magdalena and Truth or Consequences. More than 700 employees and 500 pieces of equipment will be available to keep state routes clear.

El Paso, TX also got hit on Monday, shutting down roads and highways out of El Paso as the cold system moved south, bringing freezing temperatures and causing havoc to the region.  3-5 inches of snow are in the forecast.

Ice Turns Atlanta Interstates Into Parking Lots

I 285, I 75 in Cobb County, I 20, I 85 at GA 400; they are all closed and becoming a terrible problem for those in Atlanta trying to get anywhere.

A bad as the situation is at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, the situation is worse on the roads, and is more ice in the way?

The Georgia Department Of Transportation warns road conditions are worse Tuesday morning. "It's just not wise to be out. My biggest concern is people will be going back to work, roads are going to be in worse shape tomorrow morning," David Spear, GDOT spokesman said. Spear said many roads that had already been treated with salt and gravel were starting to refreeze He urged drivers to stay off the roads until at least Tuesday afternoon.

CBS Atlanta reporters found trouble spots throughout Atlanta including 10th Street in midtown. The street had a thick layer of ice covering it. The driver of a Target tractor trailer lost control and had to call for a tow truck on 10th Street. Some drivers described driving on city streets as a nightmare.

"It took us about an hour and a half. We were by Lenox Mall. The one thing we can't do is try to go up hills. When we go up a hill we get stuck," driver Bishop Gibson said.

It's not very often that traffic comes to a stop on the heavily traveled I 285.

The Georgia Department of Transportation says it has closed the southern arc of the Perimeter. Here's the statement from the DOT:

Georgia DOT crews are currently facing very difficult and dangerous conditions around Metro Atlanta and specifically on the southern parts of I-285. Travel is impossible in many spots, so I-285 south of I-20 is currently closed. Crews are battling at least one inch of Ice on interstate roads and sustained temperatures below freezing causing extremely hazardous driving conditions throughout the metro region. Dangerous icing conditions persist. H.E.R.O. trucks are rerouting the traffic where possible in an attempt to clear the roads for the work crews to treat the interstates.