
It’s a kind of tale, a contrast of extremes.
A cold storm moving across the central United States has caused flight cancellations and difficult conditions for those trying to reach their destinations in time for Christmas.
Here in the Southland, weather conditions could reach the mid-70s by Christmas.
Take a look.

(Tom Stromme / The Bismarck Tribune; Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Rows of gravestones at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery are covered in drifting snow in Mandan, ND, while the sun sets on pleasant weather in San Pedro.

(Joseph Cress / Iowa City Press-Citizen; Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
A bicyclist maneuvers on a snowy road during a winter storm in Iowa City, Iowa, and cyclists ride through Shoreline Aquatic Park in Long Beach.

(Abbie Parr/Associated Press; Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
Children shovel snow from a walkway in Minneapolis. In San Pedro, a boat is illuminated by the setting sun as it passes the Puerta dels Angels lighthouse.

(David Joles/Star Tribune; Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
Javier Galicia braves the cold to clear the snow from a sidewalk on 4th Avenue. in Minneapolis. Meanwhile, Angelenos stroll outside the Music Center during the sunset in downtown Los Angeles.

(Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel; Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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.

(Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press; Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times)
A resident shovels snow off the end of a driveway in Urbandale, Iowa, as visitors to Long Beach’s Shoreline Aquatic Park take a break to watch the sunset.