clarinews@clarinet.com (United Press International) (02/04/90)
Hailstorms struck the Southwest Saturday, more snow was forecast for the Rockies and the East but anticipated heavy rains and flooding in the Pacific Northwest did not materialize, the National Weather Service said Saturday. The weather service issued winter storm watches for northern Pennslyvania, northwestern New Jersey, eastern upstate New York from Albany north to the Adirondack Mountains and southern Vermont, for snow, sleet and freezing rain and accumulations of up to 6 inches. Winter weather advisories were posted for northern Indiana and Ohio and flood warnings remained hoisted for the Green River in Kentucky and the lower Ohio River. Flood warnings were up for the Mahoning River at Leavittsburg, Ohio, and the upper Licking River in Kentucky. The weather service cancelled flood warnings for the Chehalis River and flood watches for other rivers in western Washington. A storm moving through the state contained less rain than expected and cold air in the front brought sbow to the mountains instead. The Chehalis was not expected to rise above 62 feet at Centralia, three feet below flood stage, through Monday, the weather bureau said. Forecasters issued a snow advisory for 5-10 inches in the Cascade and Olympic ranges. Showers moved through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana, prompting numerous thunderstorm warnings throughout the region. Hail the size of quarters was reported in Sheridan in central Arkansas and there was light damage to buildings. A cold front and an associated upper level disturbance brought snow and freezing rain to the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma. Dense fog along the Texas and Louisiana gulf coast and parts of south Texas reduced visibilities to near zero in some areas Saturday morning. A winter storm watch was issued for the Sierra Nevada and other mountains in northern California because of a Pacific storm system. Thick fog and a combination of rain, freezing rain and snow were scattered across Illinois instead of a predicted serious storm. But a winter weather advisory remained in effect for northern Illinois for 1 to 3 inches of snow. Iowa also received snow and freezing drizzle, while southern Wisconsin and Minnesota got heavy rain and thunderstorms.