![A plane is de-iced at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and sun set in Long Beach](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6163405/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x2000+0+0/resize/2000x1333!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F38%2F28%2F7b93c0ad4fa8a685630a60a2c70c%2Fweather-contrast1.gif)
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It’s a tale of sorts — a contrast of extremes.
A frigid storm moving through the central United States has caused flight cancellations and difficult conditions for those trying to reach destinations in time for Christmas.
Here in the Southland, weather conditions could hit the mid-70s by Christmas.
Take a look.
![North Dakota snow contrast with sun set in San Pedro](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/29a238a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x2000+0+0/resize/2000x1333!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fac%2Fd4%2F8fbef4b24d289d51ff7c83c96ffa%2Fweather-contrast2.gif)
Rows of headstones at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery are blanketed by drifting snow in Mandan, N.D., whereas in San Pedro, a sun sets in pleasant weather.
![Snowy road in Iowa City, Iowa and bicyclists riding around Shoreline Aquatic Park in Long Beach](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4f8e08c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x2000+0+0/resize/2000x1333!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fee%2Ff8%2F746e8eca4994b6e9d4469d85a305%2Fweather-contrast3.gif)
A bicyclist maneuvers through a snowy road during a winter storm in Iowa City, Iowa, and bicyclists ride around Shoreline Aquatic Park in Long Beach.
![People clear snow from sidewalk in Minnesota and Angels Gate Lighthouse in San Pedro](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ef74254/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x2000+0+0/resize/2000x1333!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F35%2F09%2Fdc5964444d9b8ad285014cd2022b%2Fweather-contrast4.gif)
Kids shovel snow off a walkway in Minneapolis. In San Pedro, a ship is illuminated by the setting sun as it sails past the Angels Gate Lighthouse.
![Javier Galicia clears snow from a sidewalk along 4th Ave. in Minneapolis and Angelenos reflected in a glass facade in dtla](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3f8d69b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x2000+0+0/resize/2000x1333!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1f%2F6a%2F2cc5d31f4512b7d2b874a485fe79%2Fweather-contrast5.gif)
Javier Galicia braves the bitter cold to clear snow from a sidewalk along 4th Ave. in Minneapolis. Meanwhile, Angelenos walk outside the Music Center during sunset in downtown Los Angeles.
![A person shovels snow in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin contrast with a person along the shoreline in Long Beach.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/bf79a68/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x2000+0+0/resize/2000x1333!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff7%2F5f%2F5da81bc546df905a97c14023aa56%2Fweather-contast6.gif)
A server shovels snow from the sidewalk in front of Hot House Tavern in Menomonee Falls, Wisc., a contrast to the shoreline at sunset in Long Beach.
![A resident shovels snow off the end of a driveway in Urbandale, Iowa contrast with visitors at Shoreline Aquatic Park](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0803072/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x2000+0+0/resize/2000x1333!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ff5%2F84%2F49edb9f34a7caaf3eaae29148150%2Fweather-contrast7.gif)
A resident shovels snow off the end of a driveway in Urbandale, Iowa, and visitors to Shoreline Aquatic Park in Long Beach pause to watch the sunset.
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