Winter storm wreaks havoc in upper Midwest

A severe winter storm has swept across the upper Midwest, bringing hazardous conditions to multiple states with a combination of snow, ice, and powerful winds reaching up to 80 km/h. The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings for substantial portions of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas.

North Dakota experienced the storm's most severe impact, with a serious accident near Reeder injuring 15 people, including several young passengers aged 8 to 18, when a truck slid on icy roads and collided with a van and SUV. The incident occurred approximately 115 miles southwest of Bismarck. Authorities were forced to close a 50-mile stretch of Interstate 94 near the Montana border for about 90 minutes due to dangerous conditions and stranded trucks in the Badlands region.

In Minnesota, the Twin Cities metropolitan area faced significant disruptions as up to 7 inches of snow blanketed the region, causing numerous accidents during the morning rush hour. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport reported extensive delays, with 63 arriving and 89 departing flights affected. Ground operations were temporarily suspended due to snow and ice accumulation.

The storm's intensity has prompted the North Dakota Highway Patrol to issue a "no travel advisory" and restrict oversized loads in the northwest region. Despite the challenging conditions, some residents, like Phil Helfrich in Bismarck, remain determined to travel, equipped with snow tires and winter survival kits.

This weather system arrives after an unusually mild start to winter in the Twin Cities, which had received less than 3 inches of snow prior to this event, well below the typical foot of accumulation expected by mid-December. However, forecasts suggest the snow may not persist through Christmas, with temperatures expected to rise above freezing in the coming week.