Massive winter storm brings snow, strong winds, frigid cold

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A brutal winter storm knocked out power in California, closed interstate highways from Arizona to Wyoming and prompted more than 1,200 flight cancellations Wednesday — and the worst won’t be over for several days.

Few places were untouched by the wild weather, some at the opposite extreme. Record highs were forecast from the mid-Atlantic states down through Florida, with some places expected to reach up to 40 degrees above normal.

The wintry mix was hitting hardest in the northern tier of the nation. Schools throughout the Dakotas, Minnesota and Wisconsin were called off. Offices closed, as did the Minnesota Legislature. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem shut down state executive branch offices in several parts of the state, and employees worked remotely.

Travel was difficult. Weather contributed to more than 1,200 canceled flights across the country by midmorning, according to tracking service FlightAware. About one-third of those canceled flights — roughly 400 — were due to arrive or depart from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

Spring is coming

All of upstate New York aside from the Hudson Valley and Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Genesee and Monroe counties is under a winter storm watch issued by the National Weather Service. The storm watches begin Friday evening and run through Saturday.

Most of the state will receive snow, with heavy snow possible. Winds could gust as high as 35 to 45 mph and create blowing snow, reducing visibility.