NewsTop StoryUS

Winter storm with snow, ice, wind & bitter cold pummels much of northern US

A massive winter storm swept the northern U.S. on Friday, with blinding snow in some places, freezing rain in others, and whipping winds and bitter cold temperatures across several states. At least one death was suspected from the latest round of dangerous weather — a man was believed dead after an avalanche in the Idaho backcountry. Heavy snow and strong winds made driving virtually impossible in parts of Iowa, so much so that Republican presidential hopefuls called off campaign events. “Black ice” from freezing rain brought Kansas City, Missouri, to a standstill.

Quick Read

  • Wide Impact: The storm brought blinding snow, freezing rain, high winds, and bitter cold across several states.
  • Fatalities and Dangers: At least one death suspected due to an avalanche in Idaho. The avalanche danger was heightened in the region.
  • Disruption to Campaign Events: Republican presidential candidates in Iowa canceled events due to blizzard conditions.
  • Severe Travel Conditions: In Iowa, driving conditions were extremely dangerous with near-zero visibility in some areas.
  • Blizzard Warnings: Issued in parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin, including the Green Bay area.
  • Black Ice in Kansas City: Freezing rain in Missouri caused multiple car wrecks.
  • Extreme Cold in the Dakotas: Temperatures plummeted to well below zero, with even colder conditions forecasted.
  • Montana’s Deep Freeze: The entire state experienced below-zero temperatures with dangerously low wind chills.
  • Flight Cancellations: Over 1,000 flights were canceled in Chicago, with Illinois expecting significant snowfall.
  • NFL Games in Cold Conditions: Frigid temperatures expected for NFL playoff games in Kansas City and Buffalo.
  • Flooding in the Northeast: Flooding concerns in New Jersey, Maine, and New Hampshire due to the storm and earlier precipitation.
  • Concern for the Homeless: Efforts to provide warm clothing and shelter for the homeless intensified in Portland, Oregon, and other cities.
  • Challenges for Migrants: Migrants sent from the U.S.-Mexico border to Chicago faced harsh conditions, with many relying on warming buses for shelter.

The Associated Press has the story:

Winter storm with snow, ice, wind & bitter cold pummels much of northern US

Newslooks- ST. LOUIS (AP) —

A massive winter storm swept the northern U.S. on Friday, with blinding snow in some places, freezing rain in others, and whipping winds and bitter cold temperatures across several states.

At least one death was suspected from the latest round of dangerous weather — a man was believed dead after an avalanche in the Idaho backcountry. Heavy snow and strong winds made driving virtually impossible in parts of Iowa, so much so that Republican presidential hopefuls called off campaign events. “Black ice” from freezing rain brought Kansas City, Missouri, to a standstill.

Graphic designer Emily Brewer shovels out her driveway in order to drive to work in Sioux City, Iowa, early on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

In Idaho, two men were rescued after being caught in the avalanche Thursday afternoon near the Montana border, but a third man was missing and presumed dead. The U.S. Air Force assisted in the search and rescue. Authorities weren’t sure what the men were doing in the area that had been under an avalanche danger warning for several days.

The Idaho avalanche came a day after the first U.S. avalanche death of the season was reported in California on Wednesday.

Duke Reiss, peer support and housing specialist at Blanchet House, hands out information on warming shelters and centers to people waiting for the Blanchet House’s free lunch service on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, in Portland, Ore. The Pacific Northwest is bracing for a frigid cold snap and heavy snow in the Cascades. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

Republican candidates campaigning ahead of Monday’s Iowa caucuses were contending with a blizzard warning covering most of the state. Nikki Haley’s campaign canceled three Friday events and said it would be hosting “telephone town halls.” Ron DeSantis’ campaign postponed events in Marshaltown and Clear Lake.

Bill Welch stocks heaters at Ankeny Hardware on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, in Portland, Ore. The Pacific Northwest is bracing for a frigid cold snap and heavy snow in the Cascades. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

The Iowa Department of Transportation’s road conditions map on Friday showed that virtually every major highway and interstate was partially or completely covered. The agency said driver visibility was “near zero” in some places, and wind-fueled drifts were quickly erasing the work of plow drivers.

The Iowa State Patrol posted photos of an icy wreck. “Please, don’t put yourself or others in danger,” the agency wrote. “The road conditions are extremely dangerous!”

Ezekiel Garrett looks through coats at a donation center on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, in Portland, Ore. In just one hour, during Blanchet House’s free lunch service, over 100 warm clothing items were claimed from the donation racks. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

Blizzard warnings were issued in some places, including southwestern Minnesota and the Green Bay area of Wisconsin. Forecasts for the Milwaukee area predicted heavy snow stretching into Saturday morning with wind gusts up to 40 mph (64 kph).

Snow wasn’t the only problem.

Katherine Hoffman looks through coats at a donation center on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, in Portland, Ore. In just one hour, during Blanchet House’s free lunch service, over 100 warm clothing items were claimed from the donation racks. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

In Kansas City, Missouri, “black ice” caused dozens of wrecks as freezing rain created any icy sheen over the roads. Temperatures in the mid-teens combined with wind of more than 20 mph (32 kph) created a bitterly cold wind chill of around 9 below zero Fahrenheit (minus 23 degrees Celsius).

The cold was the biggest concern in the Dakotas. It was 11 degrees below zero F (minus 24 degrees C) in Bismarck, North Dakota, on Friday morning, and forecasters warned the weekend will get even worse. It could reach 20 below F (minus 29 degrees C) by early Sunday.

Salt is displayed for sale at Ankeny Hardware on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, in Portland, Ore. The Pacific Northwest is bracing for a frigid cold snap and heavy snow in the Cascades. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

Temperatures were below zero Fahrenheit across the entire state of Montana Friday morning with wind chills as low as minus 57 F (minus 49 C) in places along the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains and in the central part of the state.

Flight cancellations were common. In Chicago, more than 1,000 flights were canceled at the city’s two main airports Friday. Parts of Illinois could see up to a foot (30.5 centimeters) of snow through Saturday, the National Weather Service said.

Norman Chusid, owner of Ankeny Hardware, talks to a customer on the phone on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, in Portland, Ore. The Pacific Northwest is bracing for a frigid cold snap and heavy snow in the Cascades. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

Near-record cold in Kansas City will make for a frigid NFL playoff game Saturday night, when the Chiefs host Miami at Arrowhead Stadium. The temperature could be below zero by kickoff and get worse as the game goes on.

Another playoff game will face winter’s wrath on Sunday. Fans in Buffalo will contend with up to a foot of snow and fierce winds as the Bills host Pittsburgh.

Ron Cook uses a snow blower to clear snow from his driveway in Sioux City, Iowa, Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Other areas of the Northeast had flooding concerns. Emergency responders helped evacuate some residents from their homes in Paterson, New Jersey, early Friday as the Passaic River started overflowing its banks. The new storm, combined with one earlier in the week, created flooding worries in Maine and New Hampshire, too.

Volunteers and city leaders in several places were worried about the homeless.

Workers get an early start clearing walkways in Sioux City, Iowa, Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Portland, Oregon, is more accustomed to winter rain, but snow was in the forecast. Tyrone McDougald wore a long-eared, leopard-style hat on Thursday as he sorted through racks of warm clothes at a homeless service center. He was already wearing multiple layers, but with no roof of his own, he grabbed two more coats to help him face a bitter cold snap arriving in the Northwest.

“I’m hoping that I can get in a shelter,” he said. “That would relieve a lot of the burden.”

Graphic designer Emily Brewer shovels out her driveway in order to drive to work in Sioux City, Iowa, early on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

In one hour Thursday, during the lunch service at Blanchet House, a homeless services nonprofit in Portland, about 165 warm clothing items were claimed — including the coats McDougald grabbed.

Julie Showers, the nonprofit’s spokesperson, said people were desperate for dry clothes and shoes after days of cold rain.

Jillian McKee walks her her dog “Bear” as snow falls in Des Moines, Iowa, on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Vancleave)

“We worry about frostbite, hypothermia,” she said. “There are a lot of people experiencing homelessness in Portland that are in mental health crisis … and slowly become hypothermic laying on the street because they don’t understand how cold it’s getting.”

In the Chicago area, advocates worried for the growing population of migrants sent up from the U.S.-Mexico border. Hundreds are staying in eight parked “warming buses” to avoid sleeping outside while they await space in city-run shelters.

Tim Kern leaves Ankeny Hardware after purchasing a shovel on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, in Portland, Ore. The Pacific Northwest is bracing for a frigid cold snap and heavy snow in the Cascades. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

Among them was Angelo Travieso, a Venezuelan bused up from Texas. He wore a light jacket and sandals with socks.

“I slept sitting because there is almost no space left,” he said. “The buses are also small and you practically have to stay inside because of the heating, because it is deadly cold outside.”

Read more U.S. news

Previous Article
Washington Commanders hiring 49ers executive Adam Peters as general manager
Next Article
Manchin: Super Tuesday will offer clarity on need for a 3rd-party candidate

How useful was this article?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this article.

Latest News

Menu