Metrodome Roof Collapses in Minneapolis

Information out of Minnesota this morning says the roof of the Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis has apparently collapsed. Witnesses say the roof is no longer visible above the dome's concrete bowl.

The Vikings were to host the New York Giants in an important NFC game today, but due to the winter weather, the Giants have been stuck for a day in Kansas City.  On Sunday, word came out that the game would be moved to Monday night.  Now, it is not known where, or when this game will take place.

The game should not be played in New York, that would give the Giants 9 home games, when every other team has 8.

This was a picture from 2007 when the roof deflated.

Update on Sunday, December 12, 2010 at 9:00AM by Rick C.Limpert

Here is video shot by KARE 11 in the Twin Cities early this morning showing the roof, or lack of one at the Metrodome.  Officials are calling it a partial collaspe.  It began to collaspe early this morning, has to be due to the 18+ inches of snow.

Update on Sunday, December 12, 2010 at 11:04AM by Rick C.Limpert

ESPN reporting that there are at least 2 tears in the roof of the Metrodome.  The Vikings/Giants game will not be played in Minnesota.  The game will be played Monday Night, at a site to be determined.  Possibilities include Detroit, Indianapolis or New Orleans.  I would guess Detroit would be the most likely location.

Update on Sunday, December 12, 2010 at 2:34PM by Rick C.Limpert

Here is an even more dramatic video of the roff of the Metrodome tearing and collasping because of the snow.  It was shot from a camera inside the dome.

Paris is Snowed In

Paris is one of the world's most beautiful cities.  It may be even more beautiful when covered in a blanket of snow.

It wasn't all that beautiful for travelers trying to get in and out of the French capital.

Heavy snow paralyzed travel in the Paris region Wednesday, where officials suspended air traffic at one of Europe's busiest airports, closed several highways and shut down the Eiffel Tower.

The resulting traffic jams set a new record. According to the National Center for Highway Information, snarled traffic lined 420 kilometers of roadways around the capital, CNN reported.

Officials at the Charles de Gaulle airport suspended air traffic for several hours in the afternoon, and began limited operations in the evening, according to Aeroports de Paris, the region's airport authority. There were dozens of flight cancellations and there will be long delays for other flights, authorities said. At the Orly airport, several flights were canceled and delays were running up to three hours, the airport authority said on its website.

First Significant Snow hits Chicago

The Chicago area charged head-on into full-fledged winter weather Saturday as the season's first snowstorm brought a general 3-7 inch snowfall to the area. Officially the city recorded 5.1 inches of snow at O'Hare International Airport, a record amount for the date, besting the 4.6 inches that fell here in1964. Areas  west and south of Chicago were even harder hit with up to 9 inches of snow blanketing areas in a band from Dubuque to Champaign.

A cold week is in store for the area with temperatures not expected to reach or break the freezing mark. With a fresh snow cover in place, overnight lows are forecast to plummet to single digits on several nights with coldest inland location flirting with zero.

With a northwest flow of arctic air sweeping across Lake Michigan the next few days, a major lake-effect snow is likely to bury portions of northern Indiana and southwest lower Michigan. Snow totals are expected to top two feet in some areas.

Looks like the Midwest is heading for a White Christmas.

Early Snowstorm Cripples Great Britain

Britain's worst November snowfall for decades shut schools and roads from Cornwall to Scotland as forecasters warned that Siberian winds could bring temperatures go below zero F in the coming days.

Snow and freezing conditions in the North East and Scotland were causing widespread travel disruption today, with icy temperatures everywhere else creating similar problems for commuters.

There is no sign of a let-up in the wintry weather, with bitter winds increasing and more parts of the UK including London facing snow in the coming days.

So far Scotland and the North East have been worst hit by snow, with more than a foot or more in parts, and police have advised people to stay indoors for all but essential travel.

Forecasters warned the rest of the country is likely to be blanketed this week as the weather front moves west.

The severe conditions could also last well into next week, with rain, sleet and snow.

A spokesman said: "Conditions are horrendous and we would urge caution."

All schools in Dundee, West Lothian and Shetland were closed this morning.

Across York and North Yorkshire, around 50 schools were forced to close this morning.

Several schools in East Yorkshire also closed for the day.

Driving was described as hazardous across many parts of Yorkshire as more snow began to fall.

Snow Storm Hits Minnesota and Wisconsin

The Upper Midwest dug out from a heavy snowfall Saturday that caused more than 400 traffic accidents in Minnesota, and wintry conditions also were being blamed for a collision in northern Wisconsin that killed two people.

Nearly a foot of snow had fallen in parts of the Twin Cities area by Saturday evening, downing trees and causing sporadic power outages.

The storm that began late Friday night was blamed for a collision Saturday morning that killed both drivers and left a passenger hospitalized. The sheriff's department in Wisconsin's Bayfield County said the storm produced "rapidly deteriorating road conditions" that likely contributed to the crash.

The Minnesota State Patrol responded to 401 crashes as of 4 p.m, with 45 of them involving minor injuries, Patrol Capt. Matt Langer said. There were no other immediate reports of fatalities or major injuries.

The storm dumped 11 inches of snow in parts of Eden Prairie, Minn., and 10 inches in the Forest Lake and Mankato areas, said Todd Krause, a federal meteorologist in Minneapolis. The major snowfall activity ended by early afternoon, and Sunday's forecast looked milder, he said.

"People will still see snowflakes across much of Minnesota (on Sunday) but it won't be adding up to anything," he said.

The snow in both states wasn't expected to stick around for long. Recent warm weather meant the ground is still relatively warm, meteorologists said, and temperatures are expected to be in the mid- to high 30s for the next few days.  Such is weather in the Midwest.