CHICAGO (AP) — A broad and erratic patchwork of severe weather swept across much of the United States on Sunday, causing significant disruptions. The storm brought heavy snow and impassable roads in the Upper Midwest, while the Plains experienced damaging high winds. Even Hawaii faced severe flooding, impacting communities and infrastructure.
As the day progressed, portions of the mid-South prepared for late-day thunderstorms. Forecasters warned that these storms would spread eastward, threatening a large swath of the Eastern U.S. by Monday. The mid-Atlantic states, particularly Washington, D.C., were highlighted as most at risk for high winds and possible tornadoes.
AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tyler Roys explained that the eastern half of the United States would be affected by successive storms. He emphasized the potential risks to life and property, noting that the weather conditions could impact several major airports due to dangerous wind gusts, blizzard conditions, and heavy snow.
Reports from the National Weather Service indicated that over a foot (30.5 centimeters) of snow fell across major portions of Minnesota and Wisconsin as of Sunday morning. The Minneapolis area, under blizzard warnings, was expected to receive additional snowfall. Hazardous road conditions warnings were issued across Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin, with officials urging travelers to stay off the roads to ensure safety.
Road conditions deteriorated rapidly, especially in northern Wisconsin, where the Wisconsin Department of Transportation advised against traveling. The severe weather also caused chaos in the air travel sector, resulting in hundreds of flight cancellations, including over 600 at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, while Detroit reported dozens of additional cancellations.
In central Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula, forecasts predict more than 2 feet (61 centimeters) of snow with higher isolated totals anticipated as the storm progresses. In contrast, cities like Chicago and Milwaukee could experience lower snow accumulations, which would still pose challenges for commuters.
While no significant power outages related to the weekend storm were reported, around 150,000 utility customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan remained without electricity early Sunday as a result of severe winds from previous storms that had gusted up to 85 mph (137 km/h).
Additionally, approximately 30 members of the Nebraska National Guard were deployed to combat multiple wildfires affecting vast ranges and grasslands. According to the state's Emergency Management Agency, three large wildfires have burned over 900 square miles (2,331 square kilometers). The Morrill County fire alone has consumed an area exceeding 700 square miles (1,813 square kilometers).
Tragically, one fatality related to the wildfires was reported on Friday. Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen urged residents to heed local evacuation orders due to the forecast of exceptional winds on Sunday. A high-wind warning was issued for most of Nebraska, with gusts potentially reaching 60 mph (97 kph) amid falling snow.
The National Weather Service alerted that a line of severe storms would affect much of the Eastern U.S. by late Monday, beginning Sunday afternoon in the Mississippi, Tennessee, and Ohio valleys. The storm threat was due to reach the Appalachians late Sunday and early Monday, moving toward the East Coast, where severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and tornadoes were anticipated.
A stretch from parts of South Carolina to Maryland appeared at the highest risk for severe weather on Monday afternoon, impacting cities such as Raleigh, North Carolina; Richmond, Virginia; and Washington, D.C. The weather service indicated a significantly lower risk stretched north into parts of New York and south toward northern Florida.
In Hawaii, heavy rain continued, leading to widespread flooding that affected homes and farmland. Flash flood warnings persisted on Maui, Molokai, and the Big Island, with rainfall rates reaching 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 centimeters) per hour. Approximately 48,000 electric customers were without power across the state as of early Sunday.
Robertson reported from Raleigh, North Carolina.
