Blizzard warnings were given to the area stretching from Montana into western Nebraska and Colorado…reports Asian Lite News
Authorities have warned blizzard-like conditions in much of the central United States, and tornadoes and flash flooding across states farther to the south from a massive storm blowing across the country.
Blizzard warnings were given to the area stretching from Montana into western Nebraska and Colorado. The National Weather Service said that as much as 2 feet (61 centimeters) of snow was possible in some areas of western South Dakota and northwestern Nebraska.
Meanwhile, ice and sleet were expected in the eastern Great Plains, the Associated Press reported.
The National Weather Service warned that up to about half an inch (2.5 centimeters) of ice could form and winds could gust up to 45 miles per hour (72 kilometers per hour) in parts of Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota. Power outages, tree damage, falling branches and hazardous travel conditions all threatened the region, it was reported.
Portions of Interstate 90 and Interstate 29 through South Dakota were expected to be closed by mid-morning Tuesday due to “freezing rain, substantial snow totals, low visibility, drifting snow and high winds,” the state’s Department of Transportation said. Secondary highways will likely become “impassable,” it said.
Those farther south in Texas and Louisiana could get heavy rains with flash flooding, hail and tornadoes by Tuesday, the National Weather Service said. The storm was forecast to continue southeast into Florida later in the week, it was reported.
The US West is witnessing early-season big snowfalls, with ski resorts in the Rocky Mountains rejoicing as heavy snow was falling without abatement and Northern California embracing an unusual amount of snowfall.
“No end in sight,” reported OutThere Colorado, and “with more snow headed to Colorado”, the state’s ski resorts were looking forward to a flood of reservations.
Data show that early-season snowfalls translate into increased reservations at resorts, reports Xinhua news agency.
At the famed Aspen, six inches of snow fell last week, according to NWS. Steamboat Springs’s Ski Resort saw 11 inches of snowfall over a 24-hour period, while other resorts saw big accumulations as well.
Meanwhile, Northern California witnessed more snowfalls.
Mammoth Mountain, the biggest ski and snowboard resort in the state, had already seen nearly 5 feet of snowfall this month. That’s more than many ski areas in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest hope to see all season.
A major storm that hit Northern California brought snow to the mountains but also caused challenges for commuters.
Interstate 80, an east-west transcontinental freeway that crosses the US from downtown San Francisco to Teaneck of New Jersey, was cut off.
Moreover, there are several more storms on the horizon.