ATLANTA—Powerful storms that killed three people in Mississippi and ripped roofs from buildings in a small Oklahoma town charged eastward March 5, spawning tornado warnings near the East Coast while heavy snow struck the Midwest and dry, windy weather fanned wildfires in Texas.
Meanwhile, forecasters warned that a Pacific storm was expected to bring widespread rain and mountain snow across California and other parts of the West from March 5 into March 7.
Tornado warnings were issued in the Carolinas, Florida and Virginia on March 5. In Texas, high winds and dry vegetation fueled wildfires in several areas of the state.
One burned at least 20 homes and structures in coastal San Patricio County near Corpus Christi, County Judge David Krebs said. There were no immediate reports of injuries. The National Weather Service said critical fire weather conditions were still expected across south central Texas on March 5.
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency on March 5, blamed severe weather for three deaths. At least seven confirmed tornadoes touched down March 4 in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, according to preliminary information from the weather service.
Blizzard conditions hit eastern Nebraska overnight into March 5, bringing around four inches of snow and winds up to 65 mph, limiting visibility and closing numerous snowy roads.
Parts of Minnesota and much of Iowa were on the waning side of a powerful winter storm. The storm brought the heaviest snow of the season to Minneapolis, where the weather service reported 7.4 inches at the airport. Other nearby communities reported a foot of snow or more.
“I wouldn’t want to say it’s unheard of or unusual. But it’s still pretty remarkable to see the power of nature with these storms,” National Weather Service meteorologist Jacob Beitlich said.
The slippery roads led to at least 70 crashes, the Minnesota State Patrol reported. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz authorized the National Guard to provide support and help rescue stranded drivers.
The Iowa State Patrol blamed whiteout conditions for 68 crashes from March 4 night into March 5. They included a pileup on Interstate 35 outside Des Moines and numerous wrecks on Interstate 80.
“There’s this series of a whole bunch of small crashes, but it’s closing the interstate,” State Patrol spokesman Sgt. Alex Dinkla said. “Our officers are literally going car to car, and then cars are getting stuck on the roadway. They can’t move.” (AP)
