By Trisha Ahmed and Jim Salter Massive winter storm hits northern states
MINNEAPOLIS — Brutal winter weather bringing snow, dangerous gusts of wind and bitter cold settled over much of the northern U.S. on Wednesday, shutting down roadways, closing schools and businesses and prompting dire warnings for people to stay home. The massive storm with blizzard-like conditions were part of a wild weather day across the U.S. Wind gusts, combined with snow and rain, forced closure of a long stretch of interstate highway in the Southwest. Meanwhile, many places in the mid-atlantic down to Florida are expected to see record-high temperatures — in some cases up to 40 degrees above normal.
Many schools throughout the Dakotas, Minnesota and Wisconsin were called off for Wednesday, ahead of the storm. Offices closed, and so did the Minnesota Leg- islature. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem shut down state executive branch offices in several parts of the state, and employees were work- ing remotely.
In Wyoming, virtually every road was impacted, and many were closed. Offi- cials warned they may stay that way for days.
“Please change travel plans if you are coming toward Wyoming, waiting to go west from Cheyenne or Laramie on I-80, or wait- ing to go east on I-80 from Rock Springs,” the Wyoming Department of Transporta- tion posted on Facebook.
Michelle Wilson said busi- ness was slow at the Denny’s where she works in Fargo, North Dakota, where the morning temperatures was minus 11 degrees Fahrenheit. Wilson wasn’t surprised — people know better than to go out when the weather turns this dangerous.
“When the wind picks up and you’re in a flatland ... it’s whiteout conditions immediately,” Wilson said.
The storm will make its way toward the East Coast later in the week. Places that don’t get snow may get ice. Forecasters expect up to ½ inch of ice in some areas of southern Michigan, northern Illinois and some eastern states.
The snowfall could be historic, even in regions accustomed to heavy snow. As much as 25 inches may pile up, with the heaviest amounts falling across east-central Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin, the National Weather Service said.