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The Midwest is facing difficult travel conditions after the Christmas storms.
Much of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas are under various winter weather warnings as people begin to travel home after Christmas, according to the National Weather Service. From freezing rain to snow mixed with high winds, forecasters are issuing travel warnings as the holidays close.
North Dakota is facing some of the worst conditions this Boxing Day, with nearly half the state facing a blizzard warning. This storm will cause hazardous road conditions as well as damage to power lines and trees, National Weather Service meteorologist Jacob Spender said. The independent.
Mr Spender said residents should try to conserve heat in the event of a power cut and avoid traveling if possible. More than 8,000 customers are without power as of Tuesday morning, according to the tracker PowerOutage.us.
A severe winter blizzard is also bearing down on Nebraska, with much of the state under a blizzard warning or winter weather advisory. Darren Snively, a National Weather Service meteorologist for North Platte, Nebraska, said it's difficult to estimate how much snow has fallen because of the strong winds that are hitting the state.
Mr Snively said current estimates as of Tuesday morning were between 4 inches and 8 inches, but that could change as the storm develops.
“When you get wind gusts, there's a lot of places where you can see almost bare ground and then a little bit further up you've got a two-foot drift,” Mr Snively said. the independent.
Nebraska also faces dangerous road conditions. The Nebraska State Patrol shared photos of two semi-trucks blocking Interstate 80 after they partially skidded off the road.
“Storm causes problems on roads this Christmas morning… Great day to stay in if not necessary to travel,” the agency wrote on X.
North Dakota residents should expect the ice storm to subside within 24 hours, Mr. Spender said. Meanwhile those in Nebraska will see safer conditions until later this week, according to Mr Snively.
