High winds caused widespread power outages, fueled wildfires, and brought severe weather to several states, including Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Nebraska. A wind-driven wildfire in Nebraska resulted in at least one death and the destruction of structures. Meanwhile, a 'March megastorm' is expected to bring snow, ice, and extreme cold to the Midwest.
Hundreds of thousands of people were left without power Saturday after high winds raked eastward from the Great Lakes region, leaving trees down and substantial property damage in their wake. Further west, at least one person died in a massive wind-driven wildfire in Nebraska.
Nearly 450,000 customers were still affected by midafternoon in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan, according to PowerOutage.us, which tracks outages nationwide.RELATED STORY | California walloped by winter storm with high winds and heavy rain and snow California on Monday saw a powerful winter A 66 mph gust at Pittsburgh International Airport on Friday was deemed its fourth-strongest on record that was not caused by a thunderstorm, according to the National Weather Service. Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport saw winds hit 85 mph Friday afternoon.Winds took down a gas station canopy in New Franklin, Ohio, and an auto parts store sign in Baldwin, Pennsylvania. Trees and tree limbs fell into or onto homes and cars from Cleveland to Pittsburgh. The roof of a school building in the Chicago suburb of Niles, Illinois, was severely damaged by wind.High winds fueled multiple wildfires across a broad swath of Nebraska’s range and grassland, causing one death in Arthur County, officials said. The victim was not immediately identified and the sheriff’s office did not disclose other details about the death.What state officials have dubbed the Morrill County fire has burned at least 735 square miles across four counties since Thursday. At least 12 structures have been destroyed, according to the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency.Chelle Ladely of Sidney said her home is currently safe, lying about 40 miles south of the nearest fire. But she worries for other friends and family in the area.“Smoke is filling the air and at night, I can see the burn of the fires on the horizon,” Ladely said. “My father is a crop agronomist, and his company as well as other local farmers are all gathering their water trucks to help aid with the fires, and truckloads of bottled water and food is being supplied by our good patrons for our volunteer firemen trying to extinguish the blazes.”Several other wildfires being pushed by winds of up to 65 mph burned another 225 square miles for a total of nearly 938 square miles by midday Saturday. The strong winds have kept firefighters from containing any of the fires, the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency said. Gov. Jim Pillen on Saturday toured areas burned by the Morrill County fire.RELATED STORY | World already seeing more dangerous heat days — and it’s just the beginning, study saysIn Chicago, thousands of revelers turned out to see the city's namesake river dyed bright green and a downtown parade celebrating the St. Patrick's holiday, despite the threat of snow and stiff winds that drove the feels-like temperature to well below freezing.Dangerous winds are but one piece of a wild weather mosaic that includes heavy rains in Hawaii, triple-digit heat ahead in Phoenix and the return of winter cold to the Midwest and Northeast. Chicago was expected to approach the single digits Fahrenheit by Tuesday, with Minneapolis seeing lows around zero.Several Minnesota cities have already declared snow emergencies starting Sunday, when what could be the season’s largest snowfall is expected to hit. Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula are also in the crosshairs.AccuWeather is describing conditions as a “potent triple-threat March megastorm” from Sunday into Monday.“It’s definitely a very active weather weekend, that’s for sure,” AccuWeather senior meteorologist John Feerick said. “It’s a highly amplified pattern, which means you get a lot of extremes. Also, not just the Lower 48, but Hawaii’s getting hit hard right now with some very heavy rain.”Feerick said people along the Wisconsin-Iowa border might see some ice as travel conditions become dangerous in large parts of the Upper Midwest.
High Winds Power Outages Wildfires Severe Weather Winter Storm
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Friday high winds cause power outages, close Colorado State campusHigh winds across Colorado have spurred red flag warnings, power outages and highway closures.
Read more »
High winds cause 2 semi-truck rollovers on I-65 in northwest IndianaWinds caused at least two semi-trucks to rollover on I-65 in northwest Indiana Friday, prompting authorities to ask drivers to avoid the interstate.
Read more »
High Winds, Aviation Facility Incident Cause Airport Delays and ClosuresHigh wind warnings in Western New York and a chemical smell from faulty equipment at a Virginia aviation facility caused ground stops and delays at several major airports in the D.C. area, including Dulles, Reagan National, and BWI. All ground stops have been lifted, but delays persist. Additionally, the City of Rochester is closing R-centers early due to the weather and a new child advocacy center is coming to Livingston County.
Read more »
Many left without electricity as high winds cause damage in Ohio, Pennsylvania and MichiganPowerful winds and extreme weather are knocking out power, damaging property, and fueling wildfires across parts of the United States. By lunchtime on Saturday there were still nearly 600,000 customers without electricity in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
Read more »
High winds cause power outages and property destruction as wild March weather blows inBy MARK SCOLFORO and MARGERY A. BECK HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of people were left without power Saturday after high winds raked eastward from the Great Lakes region, leavi…
Read more »
High winds cause power outages in Rust Belt, fuel fires in NebraskaPowerful winds and extreme weather are knocking out power, damaging property and fueling wildfires across parts of the United States. Frigid temperatures and snow return to Midwest, and rain pummels Hawaii.
Read more »