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A gigantic storm buried much of America's Midwest in snow and led to at least 16 deaths yesterday. The weather system created blizzard conditions, burying cars under huge drifts. Officials reported more than a foot of snow Des Moines, Iowa, and nearly 19 inches just south of Madison, Wisconsin.
Gusts of up to 50 mph created snow drifts up to 15 feet tall and even knocked down a two-story Christmas tree in downtown Champaign, Illinois. At least 16 people were killed, mostly in traffic accidents.
Hundreds of schools canceled classes, power was knocked out to thousands of people from Missouri to New York and hundreds of flights were canceled. Up to 7 inches of snow fell in northeast Pennsylvania. High winds knocked down part of an abandoned four-story brick building in New Castle.
The storm was expected to move across the Great Lakes into Canada, sparing much of the East Coast. But flash flood warnings were issued for the Mississippi and Tennessee River valleys and midatlantic and southeast states due to heavy rains from the southern part of the system.
Officials told people to stay home if they can, pack an emergency kit of blankets, food and water if they have to drive somewhere, and to avoid rural side roads. Pat Slattery, a spokesman for America's National Weather Service, said: 'This has been a really big season opening storm.'
Stranded motorists were waiting a couple hours to be rescued in Iowa, where the National Guard was called in to help after the state was blanketed with nine to 16 inches (22 to 41 centimeters) of snow.
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