Mix of snow, ice, rain ahead of bitter cold

Associated Press

CHICAGO

Snow, ice and rain fell Saturday in the Midwest and eastern parts of the U.S., a prelude to the Arctic temperatures due to arrive in the next few days.

The mix of precipitation affected a swath from the Oklahoma Panhandle — where several inches of snow were in the forecast — to southern New England, where up to a quarter-inch of ice is possible in the eastern Berkshires.

Freezing rain and ice factored into numerous accidents in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ohio and threatened an outdoor hockey game in Toledo.

Parts of the southern U.S. saw heavy rain and thunderstorms, leading the National Weather Service to issue tornado watches and warnings in Mississippi and Louisiana and a flash-flood watch for portions of Arkansas.

The weather service reported at least two confirmed tornadoes in Mississippi, with no reports of injuries.