'Once every 20 years' spring storm heads East

ALBANY, N.Y. - A spring storm dropping snow and rain on the central Plains on Friday before speeding toward the East Coast, where it was expected to create a messy weekend. New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer said the state is preparing for heavy rain, snow, high winds and flooding into early next week.

"It is imperative that the public be aware of the potential problems associated with this storm and plan accordingly," Spitzer said of the expected Nor'easter storm.

The state's National Guard is being alerted and prepared for the storm and the possibility of impassible roads and power losses.

The National Weather Service warned that several inches of rain is possible along with winds gusting to 40 mph or harder starting Saturday night.

In the Long Island area, the rain and some snow could meet the spring tide, which would mean a tidal surge of just 1 or 2 feet could result in coastal flooding.

"Even though it may be spring, we need to take this warning seriously and be sure to take appropriate precautions," Spitzer said.

Forecaster Brian Korty said the entire eastern half of the country would feel the brunt of it in the coming days, calling it the kind of storm that happens “once every 20 years.”

Snow, twisters
On Friday, up to 8 inches of snow fell over parts of western Kansas by early afternoon, making driving tougher and forcing some schools to close early. Southeastern Colorado was expecting to end up with no more than 7 inches — far less than the 18 inches initially forecast in some places.

Glum predictions had led Colorado legislators to take Friday off, and United Airlines had canceled 120 flights in Denver, but operations had returned to normal by Friday morning.

As the storm moved east, tornadoes were possible in east Texas, northern Louisiana and southwest Arkansas on Friday and Saturday, the National Weather Service said.

The storm could then bring rain and 25 mph wind to the Carolinas by late Saturday before hitting the Northeast with heavy snow or rain by Sunday, the weather service said. Forecasters also warned of possible flooding.

The storm’s combination of snow, rain and high wind was unusual for this time of year, said Korty.

It follows an earlier system that grounded hundreds of flights in the Midwest on Wednesday before delivering up to a foot fresh snow to northern New England on Friday.

At least seven traffic deaths were blamed on that storm.

At least one Eastern ski resort that had closed for the season changed course and reopened for the weekend — stretching out a season that began late because of a lack of powder.

“Better late than never,” said Chris Lenois, spokesman for Mount Snow in West Dover, Vt., which got just under a foot of new snow. “... There’s no bare spots on the mountain.”