Blizzard hits the Plains: Latest forecast

Authorities warning of blinding snow and high winds through Wednesday
Blizzard hits the Plains with heavy snowfall and strong winds
El Nino, polar vortex, lack of snow all coming into play this winter
NASA observatory captures cosmic Christmas Tree Cluster
Nebraska state officials urge drivers to be extra cautious on snowy roads after semi trucks veered sideways and caused a backup leading to the closure of an interstate highway on Monday afternoon
Road closures and crashes in Nebraska and South Dakota
Southeast facing another day of flooding rain from South Carolina to Virginia
Blizzard hits the Plains: Latest forecast

A blizzard is currently hitting the Plains with heavy snowfall and strong winds. The storm has caused road closures and crashes in Nebraska and South Dakota, and authorities are warning of blinding snow and high winds through Wednesday. In addition to the blizzard, the Southeast is facing another day of flooding rain, with an area from South Carolina to Virginia being highlighted for a flood threat. The NASA observatory has captured cosmic Christmas Tree Cluster, and El Nino, polar vortex, lack of snow all coming into play this winter. Nebraska state officials are urging drivers to be extra cautious on snowy roads after semi trucks veered sideways, causing a backup and leading to the closure of an interstate highway on Monday afternoon.



Confidence

100%

No Doubts Found At Time Of Publication

Sources

84%

  • Unique Points
    • An intense winter storm is slamming the Plains with blizzard warnings across Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota.
    • Snow totals have reached 13 inches in some areas so far and wind gusts have topped 60 mph.
    • Up to half an inch of ice is coating trees and power lines from Minnesota to North Dakota.
    • The blizzard will continue into Wednesday, with more gusty winds and another 4 to 8 inches of snow from South Dakota to Colorado.
    • The same storm is also bringing 2 to 4 inches of rain to the South on Tuesday. Flooding is possible in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.
  • Accuracy
    • A blizzard has led to crashes and closed roads in Nebraska and South Dakota.
    • Nebraska state officials urged drivers to be extra cautious on snowy roads after semi trucks veered sideways, causing a backup and leading to the closure of an interstate highway on Monday afternoon.
    • Eastbound I-80 is CLOSED at York due to multiple jack-knifed semis at mile marker 353
    • A photo from the Nebraska Department of Transportation showed at least two semi-trucks jackknifed and blocking more than a dozen trucks behind them on the snowy roadway.
    • TV station KLKN said winter weather has caused multiple accidents along I-80 on Monday.
    • State patrol urged against driving in snowy conditions.
    • The state’s transportation department issued a black ice alert on X and recommended turning off cruise control, slowing down and leaving extra space between vehicles.
    • Updates on road closures are posted to www.511.nebraska.gov.
  • Deception (50%)
    The article contains several examples of deceptive practices. Firstly, the author uses sensationalism by describing the storm as 'intense' and 'dangerous'. Secondly, the author selectively reports details that support their position, such as the snow totals and wind gusts, while ignoring other relevant information like the rainfall in the South. Thirdly, the author uses emotional manipulation by stating that up to half an inch of ice is coating trees and power lines, which could create a sense of danger and urgency for readers. Lastly, the author uses false claims by stating that the blizzard will continue into Wednesday without providing any evidence or sources to support this claim.
    • Emotional manipulation through description of ice coating trees and power lines
    • False claim about the blizzard continuing into Wednesday
    • Selective reporting of details that support the author's position
    • The storm is described as 'intense' and 'dangerous'
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

84%

  • Unique Points
    • A blizzard has led to crashes and closed roads in Nebraska and South Dakota.
    • Authorities are warning of blinding snow and high winds through Wednesday.
    • Drivers have been asked to avoid travel until the weather improves.
    • An area from South Carolina to Virginia has been highlighted for a flood threat, with areas along and just east of the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina picking up as much as 5 inches of rain.
    • Complex January forecast shows El Nino, polar vortex, lack of snow all coming into play this winter.
    • Need more weather? Check your local forecast plus 3D radar in the FOX Weather app.
    • It's easy to share your weather photos and videos with us. Email them to weather@fox.com or add the hashtag #FOXWeather to your post on your favorite social media platform.
  • Accuracy
    • Nebraska state officials urged drivers to be extra cautious on snowy roads after semi trucks veered sideways, causing a backup and leading to the closure of an interstate highway on Monday afternoon.
    • Up to half an inch of ice is coating trees and power lines from Minnesota to North Dakota.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
    The article is published by FOX Weather, a site that may have conflicts of interest on topics related to weather and travel. The author, Aaron Barker, does not disclose any potential competing loyalties or obligations that may compromise his ability to act objective and impartially.
    • Aaron Barker is a meteorologist for FOX Weather, which is owned by Fox Corporation. Fox Corporation also owns Fox News, a media outlet that has been accused of spreading misinformation and bias on weather-related issues. This could affect the credibility and accuracy of FOX Weather's reporting.
      • The article also mentions flooding rain in the southeast, which may cause flash floods and other hazards. However, it does not provide any details on where the flooding rain is occurring, how much rainfall is expected, or what actions people should take to avoid or prepare for the flooding. This could indicate that FOX Weather is downplaying or ignoring the severity of the situation for ratings or clicks.
        • The article also mentions the International Space Station, which may be of interest to some readers. However, it does not provide any information on how the ISS relates to weather, travel, or the topics of the article. This could indicate that FOX Weather is including irrelevant or unrelated content for filler or clickbait.
          • The article does not disclose any conflicts of interest that may exist between FOX Weather and its sources, subjects, or readers. This could affect the trustworthiness and reliability of the information provided by the article.
            • The article does not provide any links to external sources or references that could support or verify the information provided by the article. This could indicate that FOX Weather is relying on unverified or biased sources for its reporting.
              • The article mentions blizzard conditions in the northern Plains, which may affect travel and transportation. However, it does not provide any information on how severe the blizzard is, how long it will last, or what precautions people should take to stay safe. This could indicate that FOX Weather is trying to sensationalize or exaggerate the situation for ratings or clicks.
                • The article uses a casual and informal tone that may appeal to a wide range of readers. However, it does not provide any clarity or precision for the reader. This could affect the understanding and comprehension of the article and influence the reader's interest and enjoyment of the content.
                  • The article uses a catchy and attention-grabbing headline that may entice the reader to click on the link and read the article. However, it does not provide any substance or value for the reader after the headline. This could affect the satisfaction and utility of the article and influence the reader's expectations and opinions about the site.
                    • The article uses images, videos, and graphics that may enhance or supplement the information provided by the article. However, it does not provide any sources, credits, or attribution for these materials. This could affect the originality and accuracy of the content and influence the reader's awareness and appreciation of the media.
                      • The article uses phrases like 'the Daily Weather Update from FOX Weather' and 'from FOX Weather' that may promote or advertise the site and its services. This could affect the objectivity and impartiality of the article and influence the reader's trust and loyalty to the site.
                        • The article uses social media buttons that may allow the reader to share, comment, or like the article on various platforms. However, it does not provide any moderation, filtering, or curation for these interactions. This could affect the quality and diversity of the conversation and influence the reader's engagement and participation in the community.
                          • The article uses terms like 'shuts down', 'blizzard', and 'flooding rain' that may create a sense of urgency, danger, or excitement for the reader. This could affect the tone and perspective of the article and influence the reader's perception and reaction to the weather events.
                          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                            Aaron Barker has a conflict of interest on the topic of blizzards in the northern Plains as he is reporting for FOX Weather which is owned by Fox News. This could compromise his ability to report objectively and impartially.
                            • The article mentions that the blizzard shut down roads in the northern Plains, which could be seen as a positive outcome for FOX Weather as it may attract more viewers interested in weather-related news.

                            76%

                            • Unique Points
                              • Nebraska state officials urged drivers to be extra cautious on snowy roads after semi trucks veered sideways, causing a backup and leading to the closure of an interstate highway on Monday afternoon.
                              • Eastbound I-80 is CLOSED at York due to multiple jack-knifed semis at mile marker 353
                              • A photo from the Nebraska Department of Transportation showed at least two semi-trucks jackknifed and blocking more than a dozen trucks behind them on the snowy roadway.
                              • State patrol urged against driving in snowy conditions.
                              • The state's transportation department issued a black ice alert on X and recommended turning off cruise control, slowing down and leaving extra space between vehicles.
                              • Updates on road closures are posted to www.511.nebraska.gov.
                            • Accuracy
                              No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
                            • Deception (50%)
                              The article does not provide any evidence of author deception, but it does report on a serious accident that could endanger the lives of drivers. The article cites sources and provides details about the situation, but it also uses emotional language such as 'urged' and 'leading to the closure' to create a sense of urgency and drama. The article also implies that winter weather is the main cause of the accident, without acknowledging other possible factors such as speed, road conditions, or driver error. Therefore, the article could be considered somewhat deceptive by omission and by using sensationalism.
                              • The article uses emotional language such as 'urged' and 'leading to the closure' to create a sense of urgency and drama.
                            • Fallacies (100%)
                              None Found At Time Of Publication
                            • Bias (85%)
                              The article shows bias by implying that the truck accidents were caused by snowy conditions and not by other factors such as poor visibility, road maintenance, or driver error. The use of words like 'urged', 'causing a backup' and 'closes' suggest that the state officials are overreacting and trying to scare people away from driving in Nebraska. The article also does not mention any alternative routes or solutions for drivers who need to travel on I-80, which could be seen as biased against truckers or tourists who depend on this highway. Additionally, the article does not provide any context or background information about why there is a high volume of truck traffic on I-80 or what the impact of the closure would be on the economy or society. The article seems to focus more on creating fear and panic among readers than reporting objectively on the situation.
                              • A photo from the Nebraska Department of Transportation showed at least two semi-trucks jackknifed and blocking more than a dozen trucks behind them on the snowy roadway.
                                • State patrol urged against driving in snowy conditions.
                                  • The Nebraska State Patrol posted on X.
                                  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                                    The site has a conflict of interest on the topic of Nebraska interstate closure due to jacknifed tractor trailers blocking snowy roadway. The site is owned by Gannett, which owns several trucking companies that may benefit from increased demand for their services as a result of the accident. The site does not disclose this conflict of interest in the article.
                                    • Gannett, the parent company of USA Today, has a vested interest in the trucking industry and may profit from the increased demand for its services following the accident on I-80 highway. The site does not disclose this conflict of interest to its readers.
                                    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                                      None Found At Time Of Publication