N.D. hit by blizzard on top of record snow

January 13, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A fast-moving blizzard clogged roads and closed schools in North Dakota on Monday, causing more headaches for residents still trying to dig out from a record snowfall last month.

And forecasters said a blast of cold air was on the way that could send the thermometer as low as 30 below zero.

“Four-wheel drives are useless — people are just snowed in,” said Rhonda Woodhams, the office manager for the Williams County highway department. “People are calling in saying they’re out of milk and diapers for their kids, or they have doctor appointments they need to get to.”

Travel was discouraged in the central and western parts of North Dakota because drifting snow, whipped up by high winds, made the visibility almost zero. Though the travel advisory was lifted by midday, new advisories were posted in the southeastern part of the state.