Happy New Year

Thousands in plains without power

DENVER, Colorado (AP) -- The Civil Air Patrol conducted another aerial sweep of southeastern Colorado on Monday to see if any more travelers were still marooned by the blizzard that created 10-foot snowdrifts.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of customers were still without power in the Plains.

Plow crews in Colorado were working to dig some roads out from the thick blanket of snow left by the storm, the second to hammer the region during the holidays.

"Life and safety are still the No. 1 priorities. We need to get the roads open so people can get out and deal with the situation," said Dick Vnuk, chief of operations for the state Division of Emergency Management.

CAP officials had heard reports of possible stranded motorists along Interstate 70, said patrol spokesman Steve Hamilton. Several of the planes also carried infrared-sensing equipment that could be used to search for snowbound livestock, he said.

At least 12 deaths were blamed on the huge storm in four states, most in accidents on icy roads.

By Monday morning, no snow was falling across the middle of the nation as the huge storm that once stretched from Canada to Mexico had picked up speed and moved well to the east. The remains of the weather system poured rain along a line from Florida to New York, with snow in parts of New England.

A fleet of small planes canvassed snow-covered roads southeast of Denver on Sunday, searching for travelers stranded in areas where roads were blocked by snow drifts that measured 10 feet high. National Guard troops rescued at least 44 people.

"This is a very significant storm; it's in the record books," said Scott Blair, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

Up to 32 inches of snow had fallen in western Kansas and wind piled it into drifts 15 feet high.

The Kansas National Guard delivered generators to shelters and assisted living centers. At least 50,000 homes and businesses were still blacked out Monday, but some highways closed because of the snow had been reopened.

The Kansas Highway Patrol also mounted an aerial search for stranded motorists Monday. Pilots found two stuck vehicles Sunday and their occupants were rescued by sheriff's deputies.

Al Butkus, spokesman for the Kansas utility Aquila Inc., said it could be a week before power is restored to all customers.

"We've gotten 3 inches of ice on wires and connectors, and that ice stays there until it gets above freezing," Butkus said. "And the temperatures aren't moving above freezing."

New Mexico got up to 2 feet of snow in Albuquerque. (Watch how snow, ice jam up Albuquerque )

During the weekend in rural northeastern New Mexico, 44 motorists from as far as away as Louisiana took shelter at the home of Christine and Randy Glover after getting stuck in 3- to 4-foot drifts along U.S. 56, between Springer and Clayton.

"We just were in the right place at the right time," said Christine Glover. The Glovers had to guide some of the travelers to their house by radio because of whiteout conditions in blowing snow.

Utility crews in the Oklahoma Panhandle had restored power to five whole towns that were blacked out by the storm, state Department of Emergency Management spokeswoman Michelann Ooten said Monday. At least 5,000 customers had been affected as the storm dumped 18 inches of snow. Highways were slick and hazardous but open, authorities said.

Some 15,000 homes and businesses were in the dark in Nebraska.

Ten traffic deaths were blamed on the storm in Colorado, Texas and Minnesota. A tornado spawned by the same weather system killed one person Friday in Texas, and a Kansas man was reported dead Sunday in a rural home where a generator apparently had been in use during the blackout.

Storms wash out New Year parties across Britain

LONDON (Reuters) - Severe gales and torrential rain battered Britain on New Year's Eve, forcing the cancellation of a huge street party in the Scottish capital and wrecking celebrations across the country.

Organizers said it was not safe to go ahead with the annual Hogmanay event in Edinburgh, billed as one of the world's biggest street parties, leaving up to 100,000 revelers disappointed.

One woman was killed by a falling tree as gales caused havoc over the weekend.

"This decision was not taken lightly," said Edinburgh Council's Andrew Holmes. "Public safety concerns were the most important factor."

Outdoor music concerts and firework displays in Glasgow, Liverpool, Newcastle and Belfast also fell victim to the storms. Winds gusting at up to 80 mph (130 km/h) were considered too dangerous for performers and partygoers.

Festivities went ahead as planned in London, where the weather was less severe.

An estimated 350,000 people watched the fireworks at the London Eye observation wheel next to the River Thames.

"There has been atrocious weather around the country," London Mayor Ken Livingstone said. "We send our best wishes and goodwill to those who saw their New Year's Eve disrupted."

Up to 400,000 people are expected to attend a New Year's Day parade in London.

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