The United States has had a relatively mild winter thus far, but for residents in the Central and Western US, this statement couldn't be more from the truth. With snowfall accumulation WAY above average, many residents have been trapped by snow drifts reaching up to 12 feet in height. Ice, which has been reported up to three inches thick, is snapping utility lines and causing massive power failures. More than a dozen deaths have been attributed to the storms that began shortly before Christmas.

As if the Christmas storms were not enough, thousands of people in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma were without power over the weekend from yet another blizzard that swept through the region. A recent GOES Satellite photograph of the area demonstrates the intensity of the white-out seen in Colorado.

• The Three Ingredients for Severe Winter Storms
• Take the Family Winter Safety Quiz
• How to Make a Severe Storm Disaster Kit
• The Types of Winter Storms

Stay tuned for even more information on these storms as news arrives. If you have any pictures of the events, please post the information in the weather forum.