Deadly ice storm, tornadoes lash central U.S.
The slow-moving ice storm that killed at least six people across the central U.S. over the weekend, leaving tens of thousands powerless and causing scores of car accidents, continued across portions of the region on Monday.
Late Monday, ice storm and winter storm warnings remained in effect from Colorado to Michigan.
By Tuesday and into Wednesday, the storm will weaken somewhat but still bring some light ice and a few inches of snow to portions of the Great Lakes, northern New York State and New England, AccuWeather said.
Meanwhile, severe storms and a few tornadoes pounded Texas late Sunday and early Monday.
Thousands of people remained without power in Oklahoma and Kansas, the Associated Press reported. In Dodge City, Kan., the damage was described as "really, really bad" on the Facebook page of the local utility company, the Victory Electric Cooperative Association.
"The damages are so bad that it's likely going to be a while before you have power," the utility company said. "We have called in outside crews and contractors to come help."
The storm's largest ice total was the 1 inch of ice that encased the tiny town of Beaver, Okla., the weather service said. Many other towns in Texas, Missouri and Kansas saw at least a half-inch of ice.
The snowiest spot was Red Mountain Pass, Colo., where 29.5 inches was recorded.
Multiple car accidents were reported in several central states over the weekend, including deadly crashes in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma.
A United Express plane slid off the runway early Monday in Amarillo, Texas, which saw light snow, the Associated Press said. The airline says no one was injured.
In the West, another system will roar into the Northwest on Tuesday, unleashing howling winds and heavy snow and rain in Washington and Oregon.
Severe storms hit Texas
Strong storms moved through Houston on Monday morning, following a night of severe weather. Tornado warnings were sounded north of Houston on Monday morning, but no tornadoes were spotted.
There were two tornadoes in north Texas on Sunday evening, the Storm Prediction Center said. Both caused damage.
The weather service said one tornado in South Clifton was an EF-1 and the other one was an EF-0 in Bosque and Hill counties. An EF-1 has winds of 86 to 110 mph while an EF-0 has winds as high as 85 mph.
Tornado warning keeps Cowboys, Packers fans at AT&T Stadium after game
The threat for severe weather Sunday kept some fans, the Packers and a few Cowboys inside Dallas' AT&T Stadium for more than hour after a playoff game.
The stadium was placed under an order to “shelter in place” and fans were told to move away from doors and windows as severe weather moved through Arlington. The area was under tornado and flash flood warnings.
Elsewhere, at least 30 homes were damaged when a severe storm rolled through Frisco, Texas, on Sunday night.
Contributing: John Bacon, USA TODAY
