2 winter storms joined forces sending deadly blow to Midwest
By
Chaffin Mitchell, AccuWeather staff writer
Published Feb 27, 2020 1:37 AM EDT
There were several slide-offs and crashes reported on U.S. Route 63 including three vehicles seen here at Ashland, Missouri, on Feb. 26.
Two winter storms formed a band of heavy snow that created treacherous travel conditions across the Midwest, resulting in at least one fatality in Missouri on Wednesday.
The storm's impacts stretched from the central Plains, across the Great Lakes and into southern Ontario and Quebec.
Snowfall totals managed to reach as high as 8.5 inches in 24 hours. Michigan experienced the highest snowfall totals since Tuesday with Clarke Lake picking up 8.5 inches. Arnold, Nebraska, also tallied 6.5 inches.
Winter weather advisories were in effect Wednesday morning from St. Louis to Detroit and Toledo, Ohio, as two storms were in the process of joining forces on Wednesday. These advisories have since been allowed to expire as the snow tapers to flurries.
Missouri
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported on Twitter that it had received 125 calls for service, 59 crashes, 24 stranded motorists, seven injured, and one fatality due to the winter weather on Wednesday before 2 p.m. local time.
The police in Missouri posted a video on Twitter Wednesday morning showing slippery conditions on roadways and reported that officers had responded to several slide-offs and crashes.
Because of the southeastward shift in the swath of snow, St. Louis picked up nearly an inch of accumulation by late morning on Wednesday.
The heaviest reported snow total in Missouri as of 6 p.m. EST Wednesday was 2.8 inches near Saint Peters.
Illinois
Although Chicago dodged the worst of the storm, snowy conditions at Chicago O'Hare International Airport led to over 900 delays, according to FlightStats. There was a winter storm watch in effect for the city, but it was lifted as a result of the storm's shifting path which caused the snow to gradually wind down during the day.
The heaviest reported snow total in Illinois as of 6 p.m. EST Wednesday was 4.1 inches near Homer.
Nebraska
Weather conditions deteriorated quickly across Nebraska when the storm started to spread hefty snowfall amounts on Tuesday morning.
An area near Elm Creek, Nebraska, along I-80 was completely bare while snow and wind created treacherous conditions near Willow Island, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Hastings.
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Images below from the Nebraska Department of Transportation cameras showed a separation of less than 40 miles at the same moment, which exhibits how fast conditions can change when a storm hits.
Images showing two different stretches of interstate taken at the same time less than 40 miles apart on Tuesday morning, Feb. 25, 2020, showed how quickly road conditions can deteriorate for motorists traveling through Nebraska. (NWS / Nebraska Department of Transportation)
Recent snow reports show Arnold, Nebraska, had one of the highest snowfall totals from the storm at 6.5 inches on Wednesday. Angola, Indiana, had the top snowfall total at 7 inches.
Ohio
A winter weather advisory was issued for the Toledo, Ohio, area for Wednesday into early Thursday morning due to heavy snow.
The heavy snowfall from the storms didn't impact The University of Toledo enough to cancel classes. In the image below, you can see the ground covered in snow.
Snow blanketing the ground in Toledo, Ohio, at The University of Toledo. (Image/The University of Toledo)
The heaviest reported snow total in Ohio as of 2 a.m. EST Thursday was 7 inches near Fayette.
People who encountered wet or slushy conditions on their travels during the day Wednesday may have trouble for the morning drive on Thursday. Snow showers and flurries will continue across the state into the afternoon.
Blizzard warnings are in effect now for parts of New York as residents brace for as much as 5 feet of snow late this week.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo
News / Weather News
2 winter storms joined forces sending deadly blow to Midwest
By Chaffin Mitchell, AccuWeather staff writer
Published Feb 27, 2020 1:37 AM EDT
There were several slide-offs and crashes reported on U.S. Route 63 including three vehicles seen here at Ashland, Missouri, on Feb. 26.
Two winter storms formed a band of heavy snow that created treacherous travel conditions across the Midwest, resulting in at least one fatality in Missouri on Wednesday.
The storm's impacts stretched from the central Plains, across the Great Lakes and into southern Ontario and Quebec.
Snowfall totals managed to reach as high as 8.5 inches in 24 hours. Michigan experienced the highest snowfall totals since Tuesday with Clarke Lake picking up 8.5 inches. Arnold, Nebraska, also tallied 6.5 inches.
Winter weather advisories were in effect Wednesday morning from St. Louis to Detroit and Toledo, Ohio, as two storms were in the process of joining forces on Wednesday. These advisories have since been allowed to expire as the snow tapers to flurries.
Missouri
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported on Twitter that it had received 125 calls for service, 59 crashes, 24 stranded motorists, seven injured, and one fatality due to the winter weather on Wednesday before 2 p.m. local time.
The police in Missouri posted a video on Twitter Wednesday morning showing slippery conditions on roadways and reported that officers had responded to several slide-offs and crashes.
Because of the southeastward shift in the swath of snow, St. Louis picked up nearly an inch of accumulation by late morning on Wednesday.
The heaviest reported snow total in Missouri as of 6 p.m. EST Wednesday was 2.8 inches near Saint Peters.
Illinois
Although Chicago dodged the worst of the storm, snowy conditions at Chicago O'Hare International Airport led to over 900 delays, according to FlightStats. There was a winter storm watch in effect for the city, but it was lifted as a result of the storm's shifting path which caused the snow to gradually wind down during the day.
The heaviest reported snow total in Illinois as of 6 p.m. EST Wednesday was 4.1 inches near Homer.
Nebraska
Weather conditions deteriorated quickly across Nebraska when the storm started to spread hefty snowfall amounts on Tuesday morning.
An area near Elm Creek, Nebraska, along I-80 was completely bare while snow and wind created treacherous conditions near Willow Island, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Hastings.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
Images below from the Nebraska Department of Transportation cameras showed a separation of less than 40 miles at the same moment, which exhibits how fast conditions can change when a storm hits.
Images showing two different stretches of interstate taken at the same time less than 40 miles apart on Tuesday morning, Feb. 25, 2020, showed how quickly road conditions can deteriorate for motorists traveling through Nebraska. (NWS / Nebraska Department of Transportation)
Recent snow reports show Arnold, Nebraska, had one of the highest snowfall totals from the storm at 6.5 inches on Wednesday. Angola, Indiana, had the top snowfall total at 7 inches.
Ohio
A winter weather advisory was issued for the Toledo, Ohio, area for Wednesday into early Thursday morning due to heavy snow.
Related:
The heavy snowfall from the storms didn't impact The University of Toledo enough to cancel classes. In the image below, you can see the ground covered in snow.
Snow blanketing the ground in Toledo, Ohio, at The University of Toledo. (Image/The University of Toledo)
The heaviest reported snow total in Ohio as of 2 a.m. EST Thursday was 7 inches near Fayette.
People who encountered wet or slushy conditions on their travels during the day Wednesday may have trouble for the morning drive on Thursday. Snow showers and flurries will continue across the state into the afternoon.
Blizzard warnings are in effect now for parts of New York as residents brace for as much as 5 feet of snow late this week.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo