Photo: Marsha Williamson Mohr / iStock / Getty Images
On the first day of spring, tens of millions of people across the United States are under winter weather alerts due to a powerful storm system. The storm has already caused significant damage in the Midwest, with blizzard conditions and tornadoes affecting several states. According to NBC News, the blizzard dumped over a foot of snow in areas like Lakota, Iowa, and Waco, Nebraska. In Nebraska, authorities have urged residents to stay off the roads due to dangerous conditions.
In addition to snow, tornadoes have caused destruction in places like Gary, Indiana, where roofs were torn off buildings. Gary Mayor Eddie Melton reported that dozens of people were displaced, and one person was rescued from the debris. Eight tornadoes were reported in north-central Illinois, with additional windstorm damage near Chicago and Indianapolis.
The storm system is moving east, bringing rain and snow to the Great Lakes region and impacting airports from Chicago to Raleigh. Meanwhile, fierce winds in Texas and New Mexico have created a fire risk, with wildfires reported in Arkansas and Florida. In Florida, a brush fire has grown to 22,000 acres, leading to a red flag warning for much of southern Florida.
As the storm continues, heavy rain is expected along the I-94 corridor, and winter weather is predicted to affect northern New England and the Northeast tomorrow.