CENTURY, Fla. (AP) – The Latest on severe weather (all times local):
5:15 a.m.
The National Weather Service says motorists across much of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine could be in for a tough commute as they return to work after the long holiday weekend. A winter weather advisory is in effect through midday Tuesday across much of northern New England amid forecasts that snow will turn to sleet and freezing rain in some areas.
While the Northeast endures bitter cold, snow and icy rain, some Western states are coping with record warmth. Temperatures in the continental U.S. on Monday ranged from a morning low of 26 degrees below zero at Saranac Lake, New York, to a high of 89 degrees at Fullerton, California.
In Phoenix, Arizona, the fire department took note of the warmth by issuing safety tips associated with hot weather – such as not leaving children or pets unattended in vehicles, staying hydrated, and scheduling outdoor activities during the cooler hours of the morning and evening.
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4:52 a.m.
Suspected tornados tied to a vast winter storm system that pounded much of the Eastern seaboard with snow and sleet have pounded several homes to rubble and damaged a school in the South.
There were no immediate reports of any deaths or serious injuries. But witnesses say one 94-year-old woman had to be pulled from beneath debris after a suspected twister tore through a Florida Panhandle community on Monday.
Police in Virginia reported at least three traffic fatalities on roads slickened by snow and sleet. And much of the East Coast shivered through bitter cold and snow.
In the West, Arizona and California basked in heat. The National Weather Service forecasts Phoenix to have a record high of 89 on Tuesday.
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Associated Press writers Jennifer Kay in Miami; Jeff Amy in Jackson, Mississippi; and Deepti Hajela in New York contributed to this report.