Utility crews worked diligently on Sunday to restore power to thousands of residents in Wisconsin following a harsh winter storm that swept across the Great Lakes region, causing downed power lines and travel disruptions.
The storm led to the closure of the airport in Des Moines, Iowa, a major transit hub on the last day of Thanksgiving travel. On Saturday night, a Delta Connection flight from Detroit slid off an icy runway, but authorities confirmed no injuries occurred as passengers were transported safely to the terminal.
In response to inclement weather, hundreds of churches in western Michigan encouraged worshippers to stay home or attend services online. Regions near Lake Michigan reported snowfall accumulations of up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) since Saturday.
Wisconsin's We Energies reported over 6,000 power outages, predominantly affecting users in Milwaukee and South Milwaukee. Residents shared experiences on social media, with one individual stating they lost power while shoveling snow.
Elsewhere in Iowa, strong winds also exacerbated hazardous conditions, blowing snow back onto roads. Meteorologist Andrew Orrison noted that snow accumulation in certain areas reached over a foot, including a remarkable 15 inches in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
Although snowfall is expected to taper off in the Great Lakes, a new storm system is moving towards the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast with up to a foot of snow predicted by Tuesday. Orrison mentioned this will mark the first substantial snowfall of the season for many areas, while hopeful news suggests minimal impact on major cities.
