WBEZ 91.5 Chicago

While Americans are focused on the after-effects of last weekend's blizzard along the East Coast and the ongoing effects of wet weather across much of California, thousands of people in Australia are rushing to get to dry ground because of "the worst floods in 50 years."

The day's weather news isn't very good for L.A."A fast-moving Arctic storm swung into Los Angeles County early Wednesday and was expected to bring powerful gusts later in the day," the Los Angeles Times writes.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Chicago area until midnight tonight.Increasing winds, sharply decreasing temperatures and snow are expected throughout the day.

A United Airlines spokesman said the wing of a cargo plane clipped the tail of a United Express jet at O'Hare International Airport, but no one was hurt.      United spokesman Rahsaan Johnson told the Chicago Tribune that the United flight was pulling into the gate about 9:1

The Chicago region remains under a high wind warning until 7:00 Wednesday. Three tornadoes touched down around Chicago Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.Gilbert Sebenste is a meteorologist at Northern Illinois University.