100-Car Pileup Near Fargo During Blizzard

By Bill Deger, Meteorologist
Dec 31, 2010; 12:04 AM ET
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Play video This video features the winter storms advancing across the central part of the nation.

Thursday's blizzard, the first of a one-two punch for the northern Plains, likely contributed to a 100-car pileup on I-94 in North Dakota.

The chain-reaction wreck occurred along a stretch of I-94 a few miles west of Fargo, N.D., late Thursday afternoon when two tractor-trailers jackknifed on the slippery highway.

Observations from the area indicate that snow was falling heavily at the time of the accident Thursday evening. Combined with winds gusting above 40 mph, visibilities were reduced below a half-mile at the time.

The pileup led to the closure of I-94 from Fargo to Jamestown. In addition, I-29 from the Canadian border all the way south to South Dakota, over 200 miles of highway, is also closed due to blizzard conditions.

According to officials, four people were injured in the wreck, one was critical.

The blizzard on Thursday is just the first of two expected to strike the northern Plains through the beginning of the new year.

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People need to pay close attention to the UV index during this time of year. On a sunny day late in the spring and into the summer, the UV is usually at least an 8, which is very high. Readings over 11 are considered extreme values in which only 10 minutes of full exposure to the sun will produce a sunburn.

This Day In Weather History

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A tornado crossed Merrimac, Litchfield, Londonderry and North Chester. The same storm produced hailstones that had an 11-inch circumference and weighed 1/2 pound.

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