New England readies for first storm of year
HARTFORD, Conn. – Residents and emergency management officials in New England and parts of New York prepared on Wednesday for a winter storm predicted to help usher in 2014 with snow and frigid temperatures across much of the region.
Snow was expected to begin falling overnight, promising a messy commute for the first business day of the new year, but the full storm wasn’t expected to hit until later today. As much as a foot of snow or more was forecast for some areas through Friday, and temperatures were expected to plummet, the National Weather Service said.
“There will be travel problems,” said Hugh Johnson, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Albany, N.Y. “It will be very cold.”
Sections of interior southern New England and New York could get up to a foot of snow, with forecasts generally calling for 6 to 12 inches.
Helicopter being sent to rescue passengers
CANBERRA, Australia – Passengers on board a research ship that has been trapped in Antarctic ice for more than a week are expected to be rescued by helicopter today after three icebreakers failed to reach the paralyzed vessel, officials said.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Rescue Coordination Centre, which is handling the operation, said early today that weather conditions had improved in the area since Wednesday and rescue flights were likely to commence shortly. Wind in the area had died down to 19 kmh and visibility had improved, the center said in a statement.
The 74 scientists, tourists and crew on the Russian ship MV Akademik Shokalskiy, which has been stuck since Christmas Eve, had been hoping the Australian icebreaker Aurora Australis would be able to crack through the thick ice.
Associated Press
