Winter storms have caused chaos across the United States, with heavy snowfall shutting down much of Portland after the city experienced its second snowiest day in history.
In Portland, nearly 11 inches of snow fell on Wednesday, stalling traffic during the evening rush hour and trapping drivers on freeways. As the crews faced challenges in clearing the roads, some individuals either spent the night in their vehicles or completely deserted them. Furthermore, the severe storms led to power outages in multiple states, impacting hundreds of thousands of households, and causing thousands of flights to be grounded or delayed.
As of Thursday morning, more than 681,000 customers were without power in Michigan; over 84,000 in Illinois; over 58,000 in Wisconsin; about 42,000 in California, and about 32,000 in New York state, according to the website PowerOutage.us.
Joan Jasper, a resident of Portland, embraced the unexpected day off in a place that rarely sees measurable snow. She snapped on skis and glided through a residential neighbourhood in the city. “They always have like ‘snowmageddon’ on the news, and so we kind of ignored it — and 11 inches later here we are!” she said. “This is gorgeous.”
Snow & blizzard warning in the US
The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for the Southern California mountains for the first time since 1989. Forecasters predicted “multiple rounds” of snow, with accumulations of up to 3 to 5 feet predicted for the Sierra Nevada region. Snow was also expected over some lower foothills and valley areas near the Pacific Coast, given the depth of cold air infiltrating the West.
According to forecasters, there is an elevated risk of flash flooding due to the significant moisture content in the air. Certain coastal regions may experience waves as high as 10 to 14 feet until Thursday. The cold weather had a substantial impact in the northern part of the United States, leading to the closure of schools and offices and causing churches to cancel their Ash Wednesday services.
In Wyoming, roads across much of the southern part of the state were impassable, and state officials said rescuers tried to reach stranded motorists, but high winds and drifting snow created a “near-impossible situation.” Search teams were unable to reach the bodies of three climbers who died in an avalanche on Washington’s Colchuck Peak over the weekend due to high winds and heavy snow in the Cascade Mountains in the Pacific Northwest.
Unexpectedly heavy snow during rush hour on Wednesday evening sent dozens of cars spinning out in Portland and caused hours-long traffic jams. In Arizona, several interstates and other highways were closed due to high winds, falling temperatures, and blowing snow.
Authorities said that a Michigan firefighter died on Wednesday after coming in contact with a downed power line in the village of Paw Paw. Van Buren County Sheriff Dan Abbott called it a tragic accident that was “no fault of the firefighter.”
The weather conditions affected almost every corner, with other parts of the country facing extreme heat. Nashville reached a high of 80 degrees on Wednesday, breaking a 127-year-old record for the date. Several other cities, including Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Lexington, Kentucky, and Mobile, Alabama, also set new records.
Meanwhile, Minneapolis experienced heavy snowfall, with Savage reporting 16 inches and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport reported 10.1 inches. Many roads are still covered with snow, resulting in closures in some areas. The heavy snowfall also caused numerous flight cancellations and delays at the airport, leaving many travellers stranded. Officials advised residents to stay indoors and avoid driving unless absolutely necessary.
Public transportation, including buses and light rail, experienced significant delays and disruptions as well. Crews worked around the clock to clear the roads and runways, but the treacherous conditions persisted. Schools and businesses across the region were also forced to close due to the inclement weather. While winter storms are not uncommon in Minnesota, this latest snowfall brought record-breaking accumulation and dangerous travel conditions.
