Blizzard Continues Wednesday: Arkansas to Illinois

By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist

December 25,2012; 7:04PM,EST

After bringing rare Christmas snow to Dallas, a snowstorm evolved into a blizzard from Arkansas to Illinois Tuesday night.
This Christmas Day, snow was spreading away from Colorado to northeastern Texas and northern and western Arkansas.

While a nightmare unfolded for travelers, children and those young at heart were treated to rare Christmas snow in Dallas and Oklahoma City.

Christmas also ended on a white note in Little Rock as the snow spreads across more of Arkansas through Tuesday evening. A total of 3 to 6 inches was expected in the city with higher amounts just to the north and west.

The snow has continue its journey northeastward into Indiana and Ohio early Wednesday.
An all-out blizzard is also unfolding across northeastern Arkansas, southeastern Missouri and southern Illinois.
Among the cities facing the blizzard include Jonesboro, Ark., Cape Girardeau, Mo., and Mt. Vernon, Ill.
These and other neighboring communities will be faced with more than a half of a foot of falling snow by Wednesday's end, with persistent strong winds severely blowing and drifting the snow around.

Travel will be extremely treacherous, if not impossible, as the snow clogs roads, such as interstates 24, 55 and 57, and the blowing snow severely lowers visibility.

Places facing the blizzard can expect the heaviest snow taper off Wednesday morning as the snowstorm shifts to the eastern Great Lakes and Northeast.

Blustery winds, however, will keep travel poor by further blowing and drifting snow around.