Severe weather includes ice storms, snow, tornadoes
OKLAHOMA CITY — Parts of the Southern Plains counted the injured and surveyed the damage Monday after tornadoes and other powerful winds swept through, while some Michigan residents faced a fifth consecutive day without power following last week’s ice storm.
In California, the National Weather Service said winter storms will continue moving into the state through Wednesday after residents got a brief break from severe weather Sunday.
Parts of the Northeast that have seen little snow this winter were under a winter storm warning. And forecasters warned of continued high winds in parts of the Plains and of thunderstorms and possible tornadoes in the Ohio Valley.
A look at the weather threats around the country:
Tornado forecast, cleanup
Thunderstorms were forecast Monday to produce damaging gusts across the Ohio Valley, according to the Storm Prediction Center. At least a few tornadoes were possible, especially in Ohio. The weather service forecast strong winds Monday in Kansas and Missouri, with gusts topping 60 mph.
Officials in Norman, Okla., confirmed 12 weather-related injuries after tornadoes and wind gusts as high as 90 mph were reported in the state Sunday night. The winds toppled trees and power lines, closed roads and damaged homes and businesses around Norman, Shawnee and Cheyenne.
The line of quick-moving thunderstorms that produced a swath of damaging wind gusts across likely qualified as a derecho, although that’s not an official designation, said Nolan Meister, a National Weather Service meteorologist.
Meister said a wind gust of 114 mph was recorded in
Texas, with gusts between 70 and 90 mph in central Oklahoma.
There were reports of nine tornadoes in Kansas, Oklahoma and northwestern Texas, weather officials said.
Blizzard warning in California
Blizzard warnings went into effect Monday in the Sierra Nevada range as more rounds of rain and snow moved into California.
The new series of storms arrived even as parts of the state were still digging out from last week’s powerful storm, which added to a massive snowpack left by a siege of “atmospheric rivers” in December and January.
In the Sierra, Yosemite National Park announced it would be closed until midweek, and numerous roads were closed in Sequoia National Park. Trans-sierra highways were subject to closures and chain requirements.
Michigan ice storm recovery
In Michigan, still reeling from last week’s ice storm and high winds, more than 180,000 customers were without power Monday, according to Poweroutage.us. That was down from more than 800,000 at one point last week. Crews continued their work to restore all electricity.
Northeast snowstorm
While not expecting a blockbuster storm by regional standards, southern New England braced for what could be the most significant snowfall of what has so far been a mild winter.
A winter storm warning covered parts of the Northeast, including Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island, with heavy snow forecast for Monday evening through Tuesday afternoon.
Boston could get 5 inches and a messy Tuesday morning commute, according to the weather service. As much as 10 inches could fall in western Massachusetts, northwest Connecticut and southern Vermont.