At least thirteen people are dead and three more missing after heavy rains dumped about a foot (0.3 meter) of rain in the Midwest, swelling rivers and drenching many areas already waterlogged by recent snowfall, according to the Associated Press.

Flooding was reported in parts of Arkansas, southern Illinois, southern Indiana, Missouri, and Kentucky, prompting road closings, school cancellations, and evacuations in many places

DES MOINES, Iowa – Snow was piled so high in Iowa that drivers couldn't see across intersections and a North Dakota snowblower repair shop was overwhelmed with business as heavy snow and wind chills as low as 52 below zero blasted much of the Midwest on Thursday.

Frigid weather also gripped the South, where a rare cold snap was expected to bring snow and ice Thursday to states from South Carolina to Louisiana. Forecasters said wind chills could drop to near zero at night in some areas.

In Bowbells, in northwestern North Dakota, the wind chill hit 52-below zero Thursday morning.

Heavier precipitation and colder-than-average temperatures this winter already started eroding the roadways, Hansen said. The recent snow only exacerbated the problems. After this weekend's icy conditions, potholes are a problem on Interstate 264 between the downtown Norfolk area and the Interstate 64 interchange, especially near the Brambleton Avenue exit ramp, Hansen said. Crews were out Sunday trying to patch as many potholes as they could before nightfall, Hansen said, so this morning's commute will be smooth. Potholes form when moisture seeps into the pavement, freezes, expands and thaws. That cycle weakens the pavement so the weight of traffic causes it to crumble and fail. The very weather that forms potholes also makes fixes short-lived and inadequate. Only cold-mix asphalt, which is considered temporary, can be applied in winter temperatures. Inevitably, these patches pop out of the pavement, taking the edges with them and leaving even bigger holes. "We end up refilling over and over again," Hansen said.

The snow removal efforts strained state and local government coffers. Before the weekend, Maryland spent $50 million on snow removal this season. A storm in December cost $27 million of that and this weekend’s storm will likely cost more than that, Swaim-Staley said. The state has exhausted its reserve fund and will probably seek state assistance, she said. Virginia had already spent the $79 million it budgeted for this year for snow removal, and paid for the latest storm from a $25 million reserve fund. Karen Le Blanc, a spokeswoman for the District of Columbia said the city government was “probably over” its $6.2 million budget for snow removal.

The monster storm very likely busted Maryland's budget for snow removal from roads, rails and runways, but buried in the drifts was any mention of the long-term transportation problems facing the state.

Compounding the lack of state funds are the empty coffers at the federal Highway Trust Fund, which Congress has refused to replenish with an increase in any federal transportation tax. And O’Malley is proposing to again take 95 percent of the highway user funds the counties use for their own roads, and put it in the general fund.

States of Emergency were declared for West Virginia, Washington DC, Virginia, Delaware and Pennsylvania The heavy wet snow led to numerous roof collapses in Northern Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania. Over 300,000 people from Pennsylvania to Virginia were without electricity Sunday morning Washington Hospital in DC declared a snow emergency because workers could not get to work through the heavy snow. Postal service suspended all services including retail operations, mail delivery and collections across Washington DC and Maryland due to the storm. DC-area National Park Service sites including the Washington Memorial Abandoned and disabled vehicles were reported along the stretch of I-95 between the Baltimore and Capital beltways Many roads were closed and or impassable due to the heavy snow across Southern Pennsylvania and Maryland.

A system similar to a mid 1990s system will come into the area later on Tuesday, hanging around all night and into some of Wednesday. The system has the power to produce one of the most spectacular lightning shows in Southern California, one not seen in 15 years. The system has a lot of cold air aloft. The Southern California Weather Authority has named it Phil, a Category Five storm. Pacific Storm Phil will bring constant lightning with it, larger hail, funnel clouds, small tornadoes, and torrential downpours.

According to Tenessean reports the streets and roads of Nashville have been flooded with water. The reports further tell us that Nashville received a record breaking rainfall of thirteen inches on weekend. The situation may worsen even more because the calculations show that the Cumberland River will rise beyond its capacity. The river’s water level will rise to 50 feet which is very close to the flood level of 55 feet after attaining which the river will overwhelm the Nashville city.

As result of the flood, 150 plus roads have been blocked and air activities at Nashville International Airport are also disturbed. The flood has affected every walk of life. Following the flood all the educational institutes had to cancel their classes on Monday. Thousands of people are without power and it was heard from the officials of the power company that it will take two or three days to restore electricity to the more 36,000 customers in Davidson Country alone. The damage extended from Memphis to Middle Tennessee. The administration of the area plans to seek federal disaster status, which will help in securing funding for aiding in recovery efforts.

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Four people have died from flood-related causes as high waters blocked hundreds of roads throughout the state on Monday, officials said.

Emergency declarations have been issued in 40 Kentucky counties and 15 cities, Gov. Steve Beshear said Monday afternoon.

The deaths occurred in Allen, Barren, Lincoln and Madison counties, and three of the four happened after motorists ran into high water.

"The damage is widespread," Beshear said. "Several water treatment and sewer plants are under water and we have significant road damage in multiple counties." He said 49 school systems were closed or delayed Monday.

Beshear requested a federal disaster declaration, which could make the state eligible for federal funding to help pay for repair homes, businesses and government infrastructure like roads and bridges damaged by the flooding. The governor also authorized the Kentucky National Guard to mobilize personnel and equipment to assist flood victims.

The National Weather Service said southern Kentucky got the heaviest rainfall over the weekend, with 11 inches in Allen County, 10 in Warren County and nine in Metcalfe County since Saturday. Northern Kentucky got smaller amounts, around four to five inches. The same destructive line of weekend storms and flash flooding killed 12 people in Tennessee and six in Mississippi.