FORWARD OPERATING BASE SWEENEY, Afghanistan (Oct. 2, 2012) — Old man winter has Afghanistan's Shinkai district -- a remote mountain community situated 6,343 feet up in the eastern fringes of the Sur Ghar mountain range -- in its frosty grip. Here, the Afghan mountains normally bring about long, cold winters, though this year the deep chill is longer and colder than usual, according to the locals. Most recently, a three-day storm dumped snow in excess of 24 inches in parts of the district, affecting the movement of local residents and leaving many of the outlying villages completely isolated.

NEW ORLEANS A damage assessmentby a Coast Guard helicopter and crew shows a sunken vessel at mile marker 105 on the lower Mississippi River followinf Tropical Storm Isaac, Sept. 1, 2012. The Coast Guard and several federal, state and local partners assisted residents affected by the storm. U.S. Coast Guard photo Isaac damage assessment :

Tropical Storm Isaac swirled into the Gulf of Mexico on Monday, disrupting U.S. offshore energy production and threatening to hit Louisiana as a hurricane seven years to the day after devastating Hurricane Katrina.

The storm swiped south Florida on Sunday before moving into warm Gulf waters, where it is expected to strengthen into at least a Category 1 hurricane.

In Tampa Florida, final preparations for the Republican National Convention even as the state braces for tropical storm Isaac. Governor Rick Scott. SOUNDBITE: Florida Governor Rick Scott saying: "At this point, we don't see that we need to evacuate. Right now, right now, if you look at the forecast, it's a tropical storm.