6:15pm UK, Monday December 13, 2010
A powerful snow storm has battered the US midwest killing six people and cancelling more than 1,600 flights in and out of Chicago.
US In Deep Freeze As Snow Kills Six People
6:15pm UK, Monday December 13, 2010
A powerful snow storm has battered the US midwest killing six people and cancelling more than 1,600 flights in and out of Chicago.
The weekend blizzard, which has left a blast of cold temperatures, has closed major motorways in several states and caused the roof of the Minnesota Vikings' stadium to collapse.
The storm dropped nearly two feet of snow in parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin with strong winds blowing snow across Michigan, Illinois and Indiana, severely limiting visibility.
US authorities are now frantically searching for a number of motorists who have been trapped in their cars in biting temperatures in northwest Indiana.
Officials said they did not know how many people were stranded, but that some had been stuck for as long as 12 hours.
The Metrodome stadium roof collapsed under snow
The National Weather Service say the storm is now headed northeast towards Canada with more snow possible in Michigan, northern Indiana and parts of Pennsylvania and New York.
Temperatures have dipped to -29C in southern Minnesota - the coldest spot in the Midwest.
The plunging mercury and winds have made clearing roads more difficult, even in places where the storm has passed.
Jim Taggart, National Weather Service meteorologist in Minnesota said: "With the snow, pretty much the worst of it is over, but we're going to get cold temperatures through Tuesday."
He said the weather the region is experiencing is what it "normally would get in January" but not December.
Some motorists are stranded in their cars
In Chicago wind gusts of up to nearly 50mph blew the roof off a building at Navy Pier and sent waves from Lake Michigan crashing onto Lake Shore Drive.
At least 1,375 flights were cancelled at O'Hare International Airport and more than 300 were cancelled at Midway International Airport.
Officials at O'Hare set up about 200 makeshift beds and provided amenity kits containing toothpaste and toothbrushes for stranded travellers.
Farmers have also been disrupted by the large snowfall which has slowed grain and livestock movement to markets.
The Midwest will remain in the deep freeze until Wednesday with lows of -29C expected in the upper Midwest.
No comments:
Post a Comment