Extreme Weather Hits U.S. During Historic Three-Day Storm

Updated February 27, 2023

• Over nine tornadoes were reported in Kansas and Oklahoma on Sunday night as the historic winter storm moved east. Twelve people were injured in Norman, Oklahoma due to tornadoes.
• Wind gusts estimated at over 70 mph and hail measuring 1 inch in diameter were reported in Oklahoma City.
• Gusts of 114 mph were recorded in Texas, near the border with Oklahoma.
• In California, another blizzard is expected, and 40,000 residents remain without power. This blizzard warning is the first issued since 1989 by the National Weather Service's L.A. forecast office.
• Over 140,000 customers remain without power in Michigan.
• Severe thunderstorms are forecasted in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and northern Kentucky.

Updated February 24, 2023

• Over 500,000 residents in Michigan lost their electricity during the storm on Wednesday, and another 100,000 lost power yesterday. Michigan's power companies hope for power to be restored by Sunday if the weather improves.
• The companies will be dispatching 3,400 utility workers today to make repairs.
• A rare blizzard warning has been issued for Southern California, with wind gusts from 65 to 70mph expected.
• Over 116,000 residents in Northern California lost power this morning.
• Officials in Ventura County issued evacuation warnings for inland communities around Ojai because of “anticipated flooding and debris flows.”

What's the story?

• A historic three-day storm will bring freezing temperatures, high winds, and snowstorms to millions of Americans this week.
• Around 65 million people in 29 states will be impacted by the storm, which may lead to power outages and dangerous driving conditions.

Which states will be impacted?

• While the storm will affect a large swathe of the country, it will be most severe in the Midwest, where winds up to 50 mph and extreme whiteout conditions are expected.
• Minneapolis, MN, will get more than 20 inches of snow through Thursday evening and over 2 feet over the course of the storm, with winds expected to reach 40 mph. The National Weather Service said this would create life-threatening travel conditions.
• Over 5 million people in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan are under ice storm warnings.
• There are severe weather, thunderstorms, and high wind warnings for Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri.
• Flooding and heavy rain warnings are in place for large parts of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.
• A blizzard warning is in effect in parts of South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, impacting more than 2 million people.
• In contrast, record heat is expected in the Southeast, with temperatures in the 70s and 80s across the region.

Impacts so far

• Strong winds have already cut power to 140,000 homes in California, impacting over 170,000 people. The high winds have torn down trees and damaged rooftops in the state.
• Schools and government offices across the Midwest and other affected regions have shut down or moved their services online to keep people safe.
• The Food Bank of Wyoming, which serves 23 counties, has shut down, and more than 1,700 domestic flights have been canceled.
• The South Dakota Department of Public Safety said,

 “[K]eep travel plans flexible and have enough supplies, including prescription medications, on hand at home.”

• The Weather Service in Billings, MT, said that today "...might be a good day to stay home. Definitely not a day for travel or outdoor activities.”

Have you been impacted by this historic storm?

—Emma Kansiz

(Photo Credit: Twitter/@Ostdrossel)