AccuWeather is wrapping up live coverage of the major storm system that brought snow and ice from the Rockies to New England as well as blizzard conditions in the northern Plains. AccuWeather meteorologists are now warning about a powerful storm set to take aim at California through this weekend. For additional coverage, stream AccuWeather NOW anytime on our website. Stay up to date on the latest weather in your area by downloading the AccuWeather mobile app and visiting AccuWeather.com. And keep an eye on weather news and forecasts by following AccuWeather on:
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The heaviest snow has ended across Minnesota, but travel is still problematic across parts of the state due to lingering impacts from the storm. The Minnesota Department of Transportation said plows are working to clear large drifts that developed along Interstate 90, some of which appeared to be nearly as high as some vehicles. “If we have to close a highway, it’s serious. And dangerous,” officials said on Thursday morning. Blowing snow will continue to be an issue across Minnesota throughout Thursday as gusty winds persist in the wake of the storm.
The final push of heavy snow from a multiday winter storm is ongoing in the Minneapolis area. AccuWeather meteorologists say this last burst of snow is expected to wind down over the next one to three hours. More than 10 inches was measured at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport earlier Thursday, and at the nearby National Weather Service office in Chanhassen, meteorologists there measured snow drifts on the office sidewalk at around 20 to 24 inches. Frigid conditions will stick around in the wake of the storm. A high temperature of 11 F is forecast for Minneapolis on Friday, but temperatures will steadily climb into the 20s and 30s over the weekend.
Travel problems continued during the morning commute. Storm chaser Aaron Jayjack captured video of people trying to push a car that had become stuck. Jayjack said that the main roads in the area were “not bad” but parking lots and side streets made for “tough driving.”
Heavy snow in Minneapolis, Minnesota, brought out the snowplows and emptied airports on the morning of Feb. 23. Aaron Jayjack reports.
Numerous motorists were stranded in Portland, Oregon, on Wednesday as the city recorded its second snowiest day on record. At the official weather station for the city, 10.8 inches of snow was measured on Wednesday. This is the most snow the city has recorded in a single day in 80 years. On Jan. 21, 1943, the city measured its highest one-day snowfall total when 14.4 inches of snow fell. Wednesday’s heavy snow quickly piled up across the region, which created a mess on the roadways.
At least 70 cars were abandoned on the westbound side of U.S. Highway 26 after conditions deteriorated on Wednesday, according to KPTV reporter Bonnie Silkman. Some stranded motorists have responded to Silkman’s tweet, noting they were stuck on the highway for more than nine hours. A video shared on Twitter shows how one man took matters into his own hands after his vehicle got stuck in the snow. He could be seen trying to pedal down the snow-covered highway on his bike as cars slowly drove alongside him. As the morning commute got underway on Thursday, the roads were still covered in snow and ice.
Snow was still falling in parts of New Hampshire shortly after 9 a.m. EST, and road conditions remain treacherous, law enforcement officials say. The New Hampshire State Police said troopers responded to more than 60 vehicle crashes, spin-outs and cars that had slid off the roads between 4 and 9 a.m. on Thursday. “If you must go out, drive with caution and take your time,” the agency posted on its Twitter account.
Between the hours of 4 a.m. and 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, New Hampshire State Police said they responded to more than 60 motor vehicle crashes, spin-outs, and vehicles off the road. They urged drivers to use caution if they must venture out. (New Hampshire State Police)
Residents in eastern Massachusetts, near Boston, are struggling to dig their cars out on Thursday morning. A winter storm brought just over an inch of wet and heavy snow to the region, according to the National Weather Service snow reports. In Malden, Massachusetts, which is just north of Boston, one person reported 1.75 inches of snow Thursday morning, but noted it felt like “cement.” The heavy, wet snow made it feel like they were plowing a foot of light snow, compared to the nearly 2 inches on the ground. Another person, located in Boston, added that cleaning off their car Thursday morning was a “good arm workout.”
Snow shoveling is responsible for thousands of injuries and as many as 100 deaths each year, according to the National Safety Council (NSC). Shoveling can put people at risk of heart attacks due to the sudden exertion of energy after being sedentary for a period of time. The NSC recommends that people take it slow while shoveling and push the snow rather than lift it. If you must lift the snow, the NSC recommends lifting with your legs and using a small shovel.
As the morning commute gets underway across the Northeast, wintry weather is still falling across much of the region. AccuWeather radar shows a wintry mix falling from just east of Syracuse, New York, to Boston. The majority of the Interstate 90 corridor was experiencing a mix of sleet and freezing rain on Thursday morning. Snow could be seen falling north of I-90, across parts of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and across the Adirondacks, which is a mountain range in northern New York. Further west, snow continues to fall in the Midwest. A band of heavy snow could be seen falling across the Twin Cities Thursday morning.
Heavy snowfall and traffic accidents on slippery roads can often result in power outages, making it difficult to stay warm in cold weather. Here are a few tips to follow if the power goes out during a winter storm:
• Keep all doors to the outside closed, and use towels to block drafts from windows and door cracks
• Insulate windows with black blankets or place blanket on the floor where the sun is directly shining
• Run a bathtub of hot water
• Turn faucets to a trickle to prevent pipes from freezing
• Don’t rely on gas stoves, charcoal grills or other open-flame heat sources as carbon monoxide gas may build up in your home. You should also be aware of fuel fumes while trying to make a hot meal.
• Place any generators outside, away from doors, windows and vents
• Limit non-emergency phone calls
Ice, wind and snow have contributed to mounting power outages. According to PowerOutage.US, Indiana has more than 12,000 customers in the dark this morning, with over 40,000 in Wisconsin. The situation is worse in Illinois, with more than 100,000 customers without power. By far, the most affected state has been Michigan. As of 5 a.m. EST Thursday, a total of 640,000 customers are without power in the state. Since there are usually multiple people in a household, the actual number of people in the dark is likely much higher. Even as some of the ice begins to melt, the strong wind will remain and could cause power restoration to be delayed.
Nearly 70% of the U.S. population lives in a region that receives more than 5 inches of snow annually, and an overwhelming number of the nation’s roadways traverse those snowy areas, according to the Federal Highway Administration (FHA). This means there is a high likelihood that your simple grocery store run or morning commute could be impacted by winter weather at least once. From snow to sleet to freezing rain or ice, winter weather yields numerous types of precipitation that all pose hazards and difficulties on the roadways. According to the FHA, more than 24% of weather-related vehicle crashes occur on snowy, slushy, or icy pavement, and 15% happen during snowfall or sleet. But equally dangerous is getting stuck for hours in a snowstorm in your vehicle. Many people don’t envision themselves in this situation, but the unthinkable does happen and being prepared and knowing what to do can help save you and your family’s lives. “The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to not travel if you can,” AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said, but if you do have to be out on the roads, being prepared is vital.
• Have an emergency car kit that includes a flashlight, gloves, a battery-powered radio, water, extra food and a blanket.
• If you cannot move, stay where you are and don’t abandon your vehicle. It is a good place to take shelter, especially during a winter storm.
• Notify the authorities with your cellphone and pinpoint your location with GPS either on your cellphone or with navigation services in your car. Make sure to tell the authorities relevant information, like how much gas your car has, how much food and water you have and your location.
• If you don’t have any cellphone service to contact the authorities, then it is important to stay put.
• Turning your car off periodically will help conserve precious gas and battery life and reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Make sure that your vehicle is visible to others. Using a piece of bright-colored fabric, road flares, or a traffic light behind your vehicle will all help to ensure your car is easily spotted on the road or highway.
• Make sure if you have to leave your home, to have a fully charged cellphone as well as a portable cellphone charger for the car.
AccuWeather National Reporter Tony Laubach was live in frigid Casper, Wyoming, Wednesday afternoon, saying that it is “good news” that all major roads and highways in and out of the city were closed during the day, due to deteriorating conditions that made travel a major undertaking. High snow accumulation, gusty winds and low temperatures all contributed to a mess on the roads, and even in a local parking lot, where Natrona County resident Josh Gollnick helped pull a semi-truck out of the snow. “It’s pretty wild when you can take something that’s 80,000 pounds and get it out of there,” Gollnick told AccuWeather. “It just takes a little bit of effort, and kind of a good plan, you can get it done. I’m just out trying to help anybody I can.”
Laubach stated that major roads and highways such as U.S. Route 20, U.S. Route 26 and Interstate 25 will be closed in Casper until at least Thursday. Blizzard conditions and two feet of snow accumulation have buried vehicles in Rawlins, Wyoming, as Interstate 80 remains closed in the state until at least Friday.
AccuWeather’s Tony Laubach reported live from Casper, Wyoming, where all routes in and out of town were shut down due to blizzard conditions on Feb. 22.
More than 1,600 flights across the United States have been grounded, and another 5,500 delayed, due to the raging winter storm Wednesday. According to flight tracking site FlightAware, the highest number of cancellations comes from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, with 205 canceled departures and 223 canceled arrivals. Denver International Airport has been the source of the highest amount of delays, with 406 delayed departures and 347 delayed arrivals, making up approximately 40% of all flights at the airport. More problems were reported at Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport (252 total cancellations and 175 total delays), Chicago O’Hare International Airport (153 cancellations and 569 delays) and Salt Lake City International Airport (85 cancellations and 357 delays).
Highways across South Dakota have been closed due to heavy, blowing snow, but that is only half of the story across the state. Strong winds have caused AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures to plummet, approaching 40 degrees below zero in some locations. In Rapid City, located in the western portion of South Dakota, the AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures have been more than 30 degrees below zero throughout most of the day. Anyone traveling amid the treacherous conditions should also prepare for the life-threatening temperatures. Frostbite can occur on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes amid the wind and extremely low temperatures.
Several major road closures were reported in Colorado Wednesday as a result of the severe winter weather hindering state travel. The Colorado Department of Transportation noted that U.S. Route 40 eastbound was closed off in northern part of the state between the Steamboat Springs area and Kremmling, a distance of 45 miles. Other road closures include State Highway 318 eastbound for 60 miles between the Utah border and US-40, as well as Colorado State Highway 14 eastbound closed between Walden and just outside Gould, a distance of 30 miles. In the heart of Denver, the right lane of Interstate 25 northbound was closed off Wednesday afternoon due to an accident.
The impact of Wednesday’s winter storm has been felt in Michigan, where over 160,000 customers were without power as of the early evening hours. The outages in the state include 80,000 DTE Energy customers in the Detroit metropolitan area, as the hub continues to be under several weather warnings and advisories. Matt Paul, executive vice president of distribution operations for DTE Energy, told WDIV News in Detroit that “if we see a half an inch or more of ice, it certainly wouldn’t be out of the question to see a few hundred thousand outages, or thereabouts.” The company activated 1,500 line workers to respond to outages, and more than 400 out-of-state crews have come to Michigan to help restore power.
Other southern Michigan counties with a host of outages include Hillsdale County (where more than 61% of customers were out of power, according to PowerOutage.US) and Jackson County. Elsewhere, Illinois had over 78,000 outages early Wednesday evening, while Wisconsin (17,329 outages) and Indiana (12,942 outages) were also affected.
Storm chaser Aaron Jayjack was live from Minneapolis to break down late afternoon conditions, as snow began to fall once again in the hub just before the rush-hour commute. Snow was seen throughout the city, including at US Bank Stadium, but Jayjack noted that road crews have been able to keep up with snowfall rates so far. The evening, Jayjack said, will be a different story for road crews due to increasing snowfall rates and gusty winds. Jayjack added that traveling outside of the city is “not somewhere you want to be” during the evening hours, recommending that residents stay home and keep their families safe.
Conditions began deteriorating just before rush hour in Minneapolis as snow kept falling on Feb. 22.
Travel has been severely affected in a wide swath of the United States Wednesday, including in the Midwest, captured through images of snow and perilous road conditions. Motorists were seen stranded on roads, while plows have been hard at work attempting to clear off as much snow as possible. Residents who weren’t driving Wednesday were instead shoveling snow on the streets and sidewalks, trying to keep accumulation from piling up.
A rapidly deteriorating travel situation is in store for the Minneapolis area Wednesday evening, with AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter saying that another 4-8 inches of snow will drop in the area during the nighttime hours. Winds gusting to at least 40 mph during the evening will make blowing and drifting snow a concern, and Porter noted that Minneapolis residents should have a plan in place to be inside by 7 p.m. CST. “People that live in this part of the country are used to dealing with snow and big snowstorms, but this one is going to be particularly impactful tonight,” Porter said. Temperatures being in the teens Wednesday night will also impact travel, Porter said, due to road salt effectiveness lowering in the frigid conditions.
A winter storm has caused icing and dangerous driving conditions for the Upper Midwest. AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter says the storm could bring as much as 24 inches of snow.
Motorists in the Minneapolis area encountered perilous driving conditions Wednesday, with slippery roads leading to accidents and pileups. Storm chaser Brandon Clement captured aerial footage of first responders assisting cleanup of an accident involving at least three vehicles in Minneapolis. Elsewhere in the area, a car was seen turned on its side off the road. Officials in Minneapolis declared a snow emergency Wednesday, urging residents to move their vehicles off of local snow emergency routes.
Many motorists found themselves sliding off highways or piling up among other drivers amidst dangerous winter weather in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Feb. 22.
The United States has been blanketed with snowfall Wednesday, with 6 inches or more of accumulation falling in 7 different states as of the afternoon hours. The highest snow total from any state came in Kearns, Utah, collecting an impressive 16.4 inches so far. In the Pacific Northwest, another notable snow total was reported in Colville, Washington, which received 8.5 inches. Snow has also been falling in states such as Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska and Wisconsin.
Snow has been piling up by the foot in the Rockies, with the multi-day winter storm dropping nearly 3 feet of snow in multiple locations. The highest snow report from the Rockies in the past several days comes in the tourist destination of Yellowstone, Wyoming, where 34 inches of snow have accumulated — about half the height of the famous bison that roam the national park. Not far behind in accumulation is Mount Lockhart, Utah, which has picked up 32 inches. Other locations in Wyoming have picked up as much as 29 inches of snow from the winter storm.
Wednesday’s rampant snowfall in Minnesota has led to treacherous road conditions across the state, including in the Minneapolis area, where a snow emergency was declared by officials. Road crews and snowplows were hard at work in the early morning hours Wednesday, clearing as much snow as possible before the storm ramps up in Minneapolis. Several road closures were reported in the southwest corner of the state, including Minnesota State Highway 60 in Worthington, which was closed due to blowing snow and visibility at one-tenth of a mile or less. Interstate 90 was closed Wednesday afternoon from Worthington to the South Dakota state line due to similar conditions.
With snow and frigid temperatures affecting the Denver area Wednesday, city officials have opened up emergency overnight shelter space for those that need a reprieve from the conditions. In addition to the city's recreation center and library locations being used as warmup spots, officials with Denver's Department of Housing Stability partnered with citywide agencies to provide shelter, identifying “specific centrally-located facilities” to house people in a crisis. Shortly before 1 p.m. local time MST Wednesday, temperatures in the city were 10 degrees Fahrenheit, with an AccuWeather RealFeel® of 9 degrees. The RealFeel® temperature is expected to drop to 12 degrees below zero during the nighttime hours.
Temperatures in the Denver area around 1:40 p.m. Wednesday, local time.
Wednesday’s winter storm has taken a toll on air travel across the United States, with over 1,300 flights canceled throughout the country as of 1 p.m. EST Wednesday. According to the flight tracking website FlightAware, 1,336 flights in and out of the U.S. were canceled, with Delta and Southwest airlines both having about 250 flights canceled.
The most impacted airports in the country through Tuesday afternoon were Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Denver International Airport and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. Southwest Airlines issued a travel advisory for Minneapolis-Saint Paul through Thursday, while Delta Airlines issued a similar advisory for the airport.
After the first round of a “multi-day, multi-pronged storm” coated Minneapolis in several inches of snow, Storm chaser Aaron Jayjack reported from the city ahead of the next burst of winter weather. “Round two will come later today where blizzard warnings will go into effect for just to the west of here in Minneapolis all the way to Fargo,” Jayjack said. “All of southern Minnesota will have those blizzard warnings going into effect later today.” As of Wednesday afternoon, the western portion of Minnesota was under a blizzard warning, and the majority of the western and southern portions of the state, including Minneapolis, was still under a winter storm warning.
“Those blizzard conditions will blow the snow around and we could see 10-14 inches of snow in the areas to the west of here all through southern Minnesota,” Jayjack warned. “So with those strong winds blowing around, driving conditions will be near impossible.” A handful of weather-related vehicle incidents had already been reported by the Minnesota Department of Transportation in the southeastern part of the state, including spun-out vehicles on I-90 and US 63 northbound, a crash on I-35 northbound and a jackknifed semi-trailer truck on I-35 southbound. Other roadway incidents had been reported near Minneapolis.
Storm chaser Aaron Jayjack is in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where the city digs out of as much snow as possible and prepares for even more with a major winter storm closing in on the area on Feb. 22.
Typically, bread, eggs and milk are the first food items that are sold out when a snowstorm is approaching an area, but in Minnesota, one store experienced a shortage of frozen pizza. A video from Storm Chaser Aaron Jayjack showed the pizza section of a Target in Minneapolis completely bare. “The pizza aisle was the most ravaged aisle in this Target,” Jayjack wrote.
While the pizzas will make for warm comfort food when the snow traps many people at home, one person in the comments of Jayjack’s video brought up a good point. “Frozen pizzas are great when there’s no power,” a Twitter user wrote in response to the video. With the chance of power outages from this winter storm, people won’t be able to heat up their frozen pizzas, likely leaving many hungry. Some alternatives to frozen pizza, that would withstand a power outage and require no power to consume, include, but are not limited to, cereal, granola, snack foods and anything jarred. Having bottled water is also an important essential to have on hand.
Minneapolis residents stock up on food before a major winter storm approaches on Feb. 22, leaving this aisle at a Target store empty.
Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are the latest danger posed by the cross-country storm stretching from the Four Corners to the Northeast. The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for eastern Missouri and southern Illinois until 6 p.m. CST due to the growing risk of damaging storms. Nearly 5 million reside in the area placed under the tornado watch, which includes Springfield, Illinois, and St. Louis. McCracken and Ballard counties in far western Kentucky are also included in the tornado watch. A tornado watch means that the weather conditions are prime for tornado development, in contrast to a warning that indicates a twister is imminent or is already on the ground.
Blowing snow created whiteout conditions in northwestern Iowa on Wednesday morning. (Twitter/ @kyle_bleeker)
That isn’t a blank image; that is a photo of Highway 9 in northwestern Iowa taken late Wednesday morning as windswept snow reduced visibility to just a few feet. Twitter user Kyle Bleeker captured the photo of the highway, adding that it was mainly blowing snow. “Can’t imagine this when the heavy snow moves in,” Bleeker added. AccuWeather meteorologists are forecasting blizzard conditions to develop across northwestern Iowa, which could make travel virtually impossible through Wednesday night. Anyone who must travel across the region should have emergency supplies in their vehicle, including a blanket, food, water, a cell phone charger and a first aid kit.
“Winter is back with a vengeance across the North Central states,” AccuWeather’s Senior On-Air Meteorologist Kristina Shalhoup said. As of Wednesday morning, over 4 inches of snow has been reported in Wisconsin, South Dakota and Minnesota, but Shalhoup warns that more is coming. “This is the appetizer; this is a snack compared to the totals we’re going to see throughout the week.” Over the next 36 hours, bands of continuous snow will bring heavy, travel-snarling snow to the North Central states. Once the snow exits the region on Thursday, AccuWeather forecasters expect 18-24 inches of snow to fall from far eastern South Dakota, across southern Minnesota and into western Wisconsin. Some of the major effects of the storm will be felt in Minneapolis, where up to 2 feet of snow is possible. “Despite the fact that, yes, Minneapolis has a representation of being somewhat a wintry city, 2 feet is not exactly normal, it’s actually somewhat rare to get all of that snow at once,” Shalhoup said.
Besides the snow, Shalhoup noted that forecasters are also concerned about the icy threat with this storm. “It’s just bad news,” Shalhoup said. “Looking at nasty travel conditions and I do think power outages, even widespread power outages are possible.” Detroit is forecast to receive 0.25 to 0.50 of an inch of ice by Thursday morning, which will lead to dangerous travel conditions. “If you can stay off the road, I highly suggest it.”
A cross-country winter storm will continue to unleash heavy snowfall and an icy mix, which could lead to dangerous travel conditions from the northern Plains to the Northeast.
Over 22 million people across the United States were under a winter storm warning on Wednesday morning, according to the National Weather Service. The alerts stretched from the Southwest into the Midwest with additional alerts in California, northern New York and parts of New England. Ice storm warnings stretched from Iowa into Michigan, narrowly missing large cities such as Des Moines, Detroit and Chicago. However, the alerts covered over 6 million people and the National Weather Service warned of a wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain that could cause slippery trail conditions along and south of I-94 Wednesday morning.
Farther west, blizzard warnings stretched across portions of Wyoming, Colorado and the northern Plains, covering some 2 million people. Photos from state department of transportation cameras in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota captured the whiteout conditions on the roads Wednesday morning. Heavy snowfall also created dangerous driving conditions in southeast South Dakota, with portions of I-29 ranging from partially or completely covered to impassible.
Between 2 and 5 inches of snow has fallen across Minneapolis over the past 24 hours, and it is just a taste of what’s to come. AccuWeather meteorologists predict blizzard conditions will develop across southern Minnesota later Wednesday into Wednesday night, potentially reaching downtown Minneapolis. Even if blizzard conditions are not observed in the city, snow will still create significant disruptions across Minneapolis.
“Think twice before you need to travel,” Minnesota State Patrol Colonel Matt Langer said, according to Minneapolis-based news station KSTP. “Our state troopers and our dispatchers thank you in advance for those of you who have the chance to stay home and not drive somewhere because that just gives everyone else a bit more room to do the work to keep the roads clean.”
AccuWeather is forecasting 18 to 24 inches of snow for Minneapolis, which could make this storm one of the biggest February snowstorms in city history. At least 16.5 inches of snow must accumulate for the storm to rank as one of the top 10 February snowstorms. However, it is unlikely to become the worst in city history, with that title belonging to a snowstorm in February of 2019 that unloaded 39 inches of snow across Minneapolis.
AccuWeather meteorologists are warning that a significant ice threat is expected in areas from the Midwest to New England from Wednesday through Thursday. Areas of sleet and freezing rain could create slippery roads and sidewalks while also causing power outages as ice weighs down trees and power lines. Meteorologists urge people to avoid coming into contact with downed power lines in the event they are live.
Cities that can experience ice impacts from this storm include Des Moines, Iowa; Milwaukee; Detroit; Syracuse and Albany, New York; and Burlington, Vermont; according to AccuWeather forecasters. Across the Canadian border, Toronto could also be impacted by the ice storm.
As of Wednesday morning, nearly 150,000 customers were without power across the Southwest, according to PowerOutage.US. In California, more than 110,000 customers were without power, with most of the outages in the Golden State coming from central coast counties of Santa Cruz, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. In Arizona, power outages climbed into the thousands on Wednesday morning, with more than 27,000 without power in the state. Across the Rockies, another 8,000-plus customers were without power, as well.
For those relying on generators to keep warm as temperatures drop significantly over the next few days, it is important to know the dangers associated with operating them. Generators can be of huge advantage when the power goes out during a winter storm, but they can be dangerous if used improperly due to potential risks for fire, electrocution and carbon monoxide poisoning. The latter sends more than 20,000 people to the emergency room every year, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Generators should only be used outside, positioned away from windows, doors, vents and other openings. In addition, it’s important never to plug a generator directly into a wall outlet. Experts recommend keeping them at least 30 feet away from the home and any of its openings and for gasoline containers stored away from the generator and from any other object that emits heat or flames.
Snow has brought a slew of impacts from the West Coast to the Midwest, and snowfall totals have surpassed the 1-foot mark in several locations. As of Wednesday morning, the highest snowfall total was reported in Dupuyer, Montana, where 32 inches of snow has fallen, according to the National Weather Service. The small town located in northern Montana sits at an elevation of 4,117 feet above sea level. Sugar Loaf, a mountain that stands at 11,403 feet above sea level in southern Wyoming, measured 27 inches of snow on Wednesday morning. At the base of Sugar Loaf, snowfall totals were far less, with only 8.4 inches reported.
In North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, northern Iowa and Wisconsin, snowfall totals ranged from just over 1 inch to 14.5 inches. Silver Bay, Minnesota, which is located north of Duluth, on the Lake Superior coastline, reported up to 14.5 inches of snow on Tuesday morning.
The dashcam on a Wyoming Highway Patrol vehicle caught a close call on Interstate 80 near Rawlins when a semi-trailer truck nearly struck a trooper. The trooper had been returning to his vehicle after investigating another crash when he looked up just in time to bolt to the side of his car. Not a moment later, the truck barreled past, narrowly avoiding the trooper as it ran through the median. In the background near the first crash, two other troopers were seen scrambling to stay clear of the vehicle.
A dashcam captured the moment a trooper with the Wyoming Highway Patrol ran out of the way of an out-of-control semi-truck near Rawlins, Wyoming, on Interstate 80 recently.
People across the Denver area soaked up the sunshine on Tuesday, with temperatures around 60 degrees making it feel more like early April than the middle of February. But as residents woke up on Wednesday, they were hit by the harsh reality that it is still winter. On Tuesday night, an Arctic front blasted through eastern Colorado, replacing the springlike conditions with bitterly cold air. The mercury in Denver plummeted to 7 degrees by 7 a.m. Wednesday with an AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperature of 14 degrees below zero. Snow accompanied the arrival of colder air, and AccuWeather meteorologists say the Mile High City is forecast to receive 3 to 6 inches of powder through Wednesday evening.
A dog walker checks a mobile device while guiding dogs to take advantage of temperatures near 60 degrees Fahrenheit while passing by an ice-covered lake in Washington Park Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Ahead of a major winter storm, numerous highways and roads were preemptively closed in Arizona. “With extreme winter weather forecast for the high country, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) and Arizona Department of Public Safety have taken the rare step to preemptively close select highways to keep motorists safe,” ADOT officials said in a press release.
A more than 260-mile stretch of Interstate 40 was closed from just west of Flagstaff, Arizona, to the Arizona-New Mexico border on Wednesday morning. A large section of Interstate 17 south of Flagstaff, Arizona, was closed as well. “ADOT strongly advises against traveling during the current winter storm warning,” the department wrote. “Drivers who choose to travel on other roadways during this week’s storms should be prepared to spend extended time on the road in extreme winter conditions.” ADOT will reopen the highways when it is deemed safe to do so.
A blizzard is defined as a storm that brings sustained winds or wind gusts of 35 mph or greater and visibility of less than one-quarter of a mile for three consecutive hours. Visibility decline can be created from considerable falling or blowing snow. Rate of snowfall is not needed for blizzard criteria, although some blizzards may produce snowfall rates of 2-6 inches per hour. A blizzard may be produced by a large-scale storm, lake-effect snow, a press of cold air or strong winds blowing across a surface made of powdery snow.
The cross-country storm responsible for winter storm warnings and blizzard warnings from the Southwest into the Midwest prompted hundreds of canceled flights by Wednesday morning. The majority of the cancellations were out of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport where nearly 400 arriving and departing flights were scratched, according to FlightAware. The area was under a winter storm warning at the time.
Farther east, Detroit was under a winter weather advisory and a special weather statement, with surrounding counties under ice storm or freezing rain warnings. Just over 100 flights were canceled to and from Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport, and, in the West, roughly 200 arrivals and departures were canceled out of the Denver International Airport in Colorado.
