A severe ice storm swept across Iowa and eastern Nebraska this weekend, creating hazardous travel conditions and causing chaos across the region. The storm forced the temporary closure of Interstate 80 highway after cars and trucks started to slide off the icy roads.
The icy conditions, which began Friday evening, have claimed at least one life in eastern Nebraska. A 57-year-old woman lost control of her pickup truck on Highway 30 near Arlington, colliding with an oncoming truck. The other driver suffered minor injuries, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s office.
“Luckily, some warmer air is moving in behind this to make it temporary,” said Dave Cousins, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Davenport, Iowa. Temperatures rose on Saturday afternoon, melting the ice in many areas.
Meanwhile, California faced a rare tornado warning in San Francisco and nearby San Mateo County. The warning, issued early Saturday morning, was lifted within 20 minutes. Later that day, a tornado struck Scotts Valley, about 70 miles south of San Francisco, overturning cars, toppling trees, and damaging power lines and buildings. The city last experienced a tornado in 2005, though Meteorologist Roger Gass noted the warning system may have missed it back then.
“Based on video, photos, firsthand accounts, and radar signatures, a tornado occurred (at) 1.40 pm,” confirmed the National Weather Service. Images showed vehicles overturned and significant damage to the area. Several people were injured and hospitalised, including a battalion chief with the California department of forestry and fire protection.
Heavy snow blanketed upstate New York, with 33 inches reported near Orchard Park. In Nevada, parts of the Sierra Nevada saw up to 3 feet of snow, while winds gusted up to 112 mph at Mammoth Mountain resort. Avalanche warnings remained in effect for high elevations near Lake Tahoe.
Western Washington faced widespread power outages on Saturday due to rain and high winds, leaving tens of thousands without electricity.
