A tractor trailer veers into ditch on Christmas Day on Interstate 80 in Nebraska as a winter storm pummels a part of the Midwest. Forecasters are predicting that heavy snow and blizzard circumstances will proceed by way of early Wednesday throughout a part of the north-central U.S.
Nebraska State Patrol/AP
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Nebraska State Patrol/AP
A tractor trailer veers into ditch on Christmas Day on Interstate 80 in Nebraska as a winter storm pummels a part of the Midwest. Forecasters are predicting that heavy snow and blizzard circumstances will proceed by way of early Wednesday throughout a part of the north-central U.S.
Nebraska State Patrol/AP
Hundreds of thousands of persons are beneath winter climate alerts on Tuesday as a blizzard-fueling storm kilos components of the Plains area and Higher Midwest, leaving vacation vacationers dealing with harmful whiteout circumstances and journey delays.
The “vital” winter storm with heavy snow, freezing rain and probably damaging ice is anticipated to final by way of early Wednesday, the Nationwide Climate Service mentioned.
A mix of excessive winds and snowfall might carry down tree branches and energy traces throughout the Excessive Plains into the Northern Plains, the NWS cautioned in a noon advisory. In the meantime, the Dakotas and northern Minnesota are experiencing a mixture of sleet and rain which might result in harmful ice accumulations of as much as half an inch on roads throughout the area.
⚠️Throughout a excessive wind warning, motorists ought to keep away from touring since these winds could make driving troublesome, particularly for top profile autos like semi-trucks and light-weighing and smaller autos. Excessive winds additionally could scale back visibility with snow. pic.twitter.com/V5DYuwbMDL
— Colorado Division of Transportation (CDOT) (@ColoradoDOT) December 26, 2023
In Colorado’s japanese plains, a blizzard shut down a stretch of Interstate 70 and disrupted dozens of flights at Denver Worldwide Airport, Colorado Public Radio reported. No less than 350 flights have been delayed at DIA Tuesday morning in the course of the post-Christmas journey rush, based on the monitoring web site FlightAware. No less than 16 have been canceled.
As of 1 p.m. native time, drivers within the japanese plains have been urged to restrict or keep away from journey because of excessive winds warnings on I-70, “particularly for top profile autos like semi-trucks and light-weighing and smaller autos,” the Colorado Division of Transportation mentioned.
“Excessive winds additionally could scale back visibility with snow,” transportation officers mentioned.
In Nebraska, the NWS warned drivers to plan on slippery highway circumstances and patchy blowing snow that might considerably scale back visibility, slowing the night commute.
“Journey must be restricted to emergencies solely. For those who should journey, have a winter survival package with you. For those who get stranded, keep together with your automobile,” the company added.
The Nebraska Division of Transportation introduced it had closed parts of I-80 from Large Springs to North Platte — a stretch of about 74 miles — because of low visibility and unsafe driving circumstances.
The NWS forecast an extra 6 inches or extra of snow for parts of South Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming on Tuesday.
Freezing rain continued to drop on components of the Crimson River Valley in Minnesota on Tuesday “after bringing each blizzard circumstances and report heat to the area over the vacation weekend,” Minnesota Public Radio reported.
North Dakota’s utility firm, Cass County Electrical Cooperative, was reporting greater than 3,100 clients with out energy in components of Jamestown, Fargo and Wahpeton.
“Situations on the roads and right-of-ways are hazardous between the ice and now mud with the persevering with rain, however our lineworkers are doing their finest to revive energy to as many members as potential,” Cass County Electrical Cooperative officers reported in an replace Tuesday morning. “There are a number of thousand members with out energy and over 150 distinctive outages presently, and it modifications with the minute.”
And about 3,100 Otter Tail Energy Firm clients between Bismark and Fargo have been additionally at the hours of darkness as of 4 p.m. native time. Whereas a number of crews have been reportedly on their approach, the corporate mentioned they may not but present an estimated restoration time because of icy and moist circumstances.
