Major storm system sweeps across Midwest
OMAHA, Neb. - A storm system that dropped a foot of snow in the Rockies was making travel hazardous as it headed east on Wednesday, menacing the Plains with heavy snow and threatening turbulent weather -- even tornadoes -- in parts of the Midwest.
CBS Denver reports the area experienced a typical Colorado weather phenomenon: Within 12 hours on Tuesday, Denver went from a high temperature of 67°F to snow.
The system was expected to affect more than 36.5 million people from Colorado through Ohio and from Texas north through Michigan. The National Weather Service issued tornado watches for most of the day in parts of Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri and Iowa.
The storm dropped up to about 5 inches in parts of the Denver area on Wednesday, and Colorado highway patrol troopers reported several crashes north of the city on windy, icy Interstate 25 near the Wyoming border before the sun came out. Wyoming authorities also shut down large sections of roadways.
The Nebraska State Patrol reported several minor accidents involving vehicles sliding off icy or slushy roadways, but no injuries have been reported.
Alan Salyards said truckers coming through his Flying J Travel Plaza near Big Springs, a Nebraska town along the Colorado boarder, didn't seem especially concerned. He said plow trucks were working all morning to keep the roads passable.
"The drivers are just doing their normal thing," he said.
At Denver International Airport, spokesman Heath Montgomery said airlines canceled about 50 flights in anticipation of the bad weather -- out of the airport's 1,500 daily flights -- and ground crews kept up with the snowfall. No major delays were reported.
The back side of the fast-moving system will run into more cold air over Kansas and Nebraska, leaving behind up to 8 inches of snow in some spots, said Jared Guyer, a forecaster with the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center.
As the system spreads east, its southern portion will run into warmer, humid air and raise the potential for severe thunderstorms and even tornadoes, he said.
A suspected tornado was spotted on Wednesday evening in Powersville, Iowa. Another possible twister was spotted in the southern Iowa town of Avoca.
"It's definitely a chance of severe weather, a severe weather risk no doubt worth paying attention to," he said.
A winter storm warning or blizzard warning was in effect through Wednesday for parts of Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas. Sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph were expected, with gust up to 55 or even 60 mph.
At Pi Kappa Cino Coffee in Sterling, a town in far northeast Colorado, workers were checking their heaters and stocking up on coffee Tuesday to handle the first significant snowfall of the season.
"We always try to keep prepared for the winter, keeping extra water on hand and checking the heaters," owner Patricia Prescott said. "Business normally picks up because everyone wants our warm drinks."
Forecasters say Michigan will see high winds and rain mixed with snow as part of a strong storm system moving into the Midwest. The National Weather Service issued gale warnings for the Great Lakes region that are in effect until Thursday in some areas.
Waves on Lake Michigan are expected to be 6 to 10 feet on Wednesday night and peak Thursday in the 12- to 15-foot range. Waves up to 13 feet are possible.
Gale warnings are in effect into Friday night for parts of Lake Huron. High winds are expected, especially across the southern portion of the Lower Peninsula. Gusts of 60 mph are possible. Stormy weather could continue on Friday. The weather service says recreational boaters should stay in port until the winds and waves subside.
The National Weather Service says a "powerhouse autumn storm" will move into parts of Illinois. Forecasters say the storm's expected Wednesday evening arrival will bring wind gusts of 50 mph or more along with showers and thunderstorms into central and southeastern Illinois.
The storms have the potential to be severe with lightning, large hail and chances of an isolated tornado accompanied by damaging wind gusts.
The gusts are expected to continue into Thursday after the storms move out of the state. The storms are forecast to be in Illinois from 6 p.m. Wednesday to 12 a.m. Thursday. Areas of enhanced risk include Bloomington, Decatur, Galesburg, Peoria and Springfield. Slight chances of stormy weather are forecast in Champaign south to Effingham and Olney.
In southern Wyoming, winter weather conditions shut down a 100-mile section of Interstate 80 between Laramie and Rawlins.
In addition, 50 miles of westbound lanes between Cheyenne and Laramie also closed Wednesday morning. The weather also closed sections of U.S. 30 and state highways 77, 487 and 34 north of I-80.
The weather service cited the potential for white-out conditions and urged people to stay home.
A day earlier, up to 18 inches of wet, heavy snow fell in Nevada, shuttering schools in Reno and knocking out power to thousands.