The northern United States braces for a winter storm
Heaviest snowfall expected in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Several states in the northern United States began to feel the effects of a winter storm on Wednesday that could bury some areas in up to two feet of snow and generate intense winds and cold.
Many schools and businesses have closed in South Dakota and North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The Minnesota Legislature adjourned until Monday. Several South Dakota government offices were closed and employees were working remotely.
Almost every road in Wyoming is affected, several of them have been closed. Officials have warned that the situation could continue for several days.
Authorities have asked people to avoid travel due to weather conditions.
The bad weather will then slide towards the east coast of the country. Meteorologists are anticipating about a centimeter of ice over southern Michigan, northern Illinois and some eastern states.
Unprecedented snowfall is expected in this region of the United States accustomed to winter storms. Up to 65 centimeters of flakes could fall, with the heaviest accumulations expected in east-central Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin, according to the US National Weather Service.
Gusts of 75 km/h are predicted and the mercury could plunge to -46, with the wind chill, in South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota.
It 60 centimeters of snow could fall on the Minneapolis–St. Paul area for the first time in more than 30 years. A first round of precipitation is expected Wednesday afternoon, followed by a second, more intense, between Wednesday and Thursday.
More than 1,200 flights had been canceled across the country in the middle of day, about a third of which departing from or arriving at the Minneapolis–St. Paul airport.
AccuWeather meteorologists warn that sleet is possible along a 2,000+ mile strip between Nebraska and New Hampshire on Wednesday and Thursday, making travel treacherous in cities like Milwaukee, Detroit , Chicago and Boston.
Meanwhile, unprecedented heat is forecast from Baltimore to New Orleans. The mercury could approach 27 degrees Celsius Thursday in Washington, surpassing a record set in 1874 at the same date. Abnormally warm weather is also predicted in Florida.
California was preparing for the arrival of a new winter storm that could bring rain, snow and hail over most of the state. Gusts of 75 kilometers per hour are possible along the central coasts and over 100 kilometers per hour in the mountains.
More than 100,000 customers were without electricity across California midday Wednesday, according to PowerOutage.us.
A one-year-old toddler suffered serious injuries when a tree fell on a home in Boulder Creek, south of San Francisco. Rescuers had to cut down the tree before they could rescue the child, local media reported.
A blizzard warning will be in effect for the counties mountains from Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara between 4 p.m. Thursday and 4 p.m. Friday.
