Snow cover across the lower 48 states jumped to more than 70% in recent days as a number of snowstorms dumped a blanket of white.  NASA satellites took some extraordinary images of not only Colorado but also the South and the northeastern U.S.

Here in Colorado our recent storm brought nearly 6 inches of snow to Thornton and deposited a pretty solid layer across most of the state.  Warm weather today and in the coming days will make short work of it though, particularly on the eastern half of the state.

In the southern U.S., a powerful winter storm on Monday brought rare snow to states along the Gulf of Mexico.  For a region accustomed to more mild conditions the storm presented a major challenge for residents.

Little Rock, Arkansas reported 5.6 inches of snow, Atlanta 3.0 inches and 7.0 inches fell on Tupelo, Mississippi, Asheville, North Carolina and New Boston, Texas.  Adding to the problems was ice which coated some places up to an inch and a half thick.

The same storm system that wreaked havoc in the south moved to the northeast and brought snow from the Mid-Atlantic to New England.  The region was buried by a major snowstorm right after Christmas and while this storm wasn’t near as bad, it added to the misery. 

The images below were taken yesterday by NASA’s Terra and Aqua satellites and are impressive testaments to the powerful winter weather.  For more on all of these storm systems, be sure to visit the Natural Disasters Examiner.

January 12, 2011 – Snow across the South

January 12, 2011 – Hurricane-looking storm pummels the northeast with snow

January 12, 2011 – Colorado under a blanket of white (NASA)