Severe weather swept across the U.S. this weekend, causing widespread disruptions including heavy snowfall, power outages, wildfires, and flash floods.
Key Takeaways
Severe weather swept across the U.S., causing heavy snowfall in the Upper Midwest, wildfires in Nebraska, and flooding in Hawaii. The storm system affected multiple states with significant disruptions including flight cancellations and power outages.
- Severe winter storms caused widespread disruptions across the U.S.
- Heavy snowfall led to over 600 flights canceled at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport
- Wildfires in Nebraska burned nearly 938 square miles, with one fatality reported
- Hawaii faced severe flooding as heavy rains caused widespread damage.
The storm system affected multiple states with particularly strong impacts in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Hawaii. In the Upper Midwest, over 20 inches of snow fell in some areas by Sunday afternoon. Blizzard warnings were issued across Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin as hazardous road conditions made travel difficult.
The heavy snowfall led to significant flight cancellations at major airports including Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport with more than 600 flights canceled, according to FlightAware. Chicago's O'Hare and Midway international airports reported over 850 cancellations as rain and snow were expected overnight into Monday.
Nebraska experienced multiple wildfires that burned nearly 938 square miles, with one fire-related fatality reported. Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen declared a state of emergency and deployed the National Guard to assist in firefighting efforts. High winds, reaching up to 60 mph, continued to fuel the fires.
Hawaii faced severe flooding as heavy rains caused widespread damage. Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen reported that some areas received more than 20 inches of rain in 24 hours, leading to flooding, landslides, and downed power lines. Over 50,000 utility customers were without power as of early Sunday.
The National Weather Service warned of a line of severe storms with damaging winds expected to cross much of the Eastern U.S. by late Monday. The threat included potential tornadoes and high winds stretching from South Carolina to Maryland, affecting areas like Raleigh, Richmond, Virginia, and Washington D.C.
In Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer activated the State Emergency Operations Center due to significant weather impacts across the state. Residents in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula faced up to three feet of snow, severe icing, and blizzard conditions as a result of a late-season winter storm moving through on Sunday.
The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for Keweenaw and northern Houghton counties in the Upper Peninsula until 2 a.m. on Tuesday. Alger, Delta, Luce, and Schoolcraft counties remained under the alert until 8 a.m. Tuesday. A portion of the northern Lower Peninsula was under an ice storm warning until 8 a.m. Monday.
All nonessential state office buildings in the Upper Peninsula and much of the northern Lower Peninsula were closed until Tuesday at 6 a.m. due to the weather. The State Emergency Operations Center, located in Diamondale, opened at 10 a.m. and is overseen by the Michigan State Police.
Power outages plagued Southeast Michigan as high winds began early Friday, with DTE Energy reporting 8,300 customers without power as of 10:15 a.m. Monday. Consumers Energy reported 89,000 customers without power in mid-Michigan and Northern Lower Michigan, most of them in the Houghton Lake and Huron National Forest area.
The CBS News Detroit NEXT Weather Team declared Sunday a NEXT Weather Alert Day due to expected high winds and thunderstorms in Southeast Michigan. A wind advisory was in effect for the area along and south of Interstate 69, including metro Detroit down to the Ohio border, until midnight on Tuesday.
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