Harsh weather in U.S. Midwest expected to snowball this weekend

Firefighters dig out a fire hydrant in Chicago

WEB EXCLUSIVE Dave Hennen: So many storms, so soon in season

CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- Nasty weather left hundreds of thousands of people across the United States without electricity as a storm with near-blizzard conditions approaches the Midwest.

A low pressure cell bearing extremely cold temperatures was moving Friday from the Dakotas toward Missouri, Wisconsin and Illinois. By Saturday afternoon it was expected to yield near-blizzard conditions, including heavy snow, strong winds and dangerous wind chill temperatures. The wind chill factor in some areas was expected to make temperatures feel like 40-to-50 degrees below zero, CNN Meteorologist Dave Hennen said.

Meanwhile, people in parts of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin awoke Friday to more freezing rain and snow.

Bad weather in the Midwest has hampered routine activities all week. St. Louis was digging out from 9 inches of snow and Springfield, Missouri, was emerging from 14 inches of snow.

Chicago was hit by up to 10 inches of snow, and ice on city streets resulted in many auto accidents.

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Gusty winds in Denver were expected to create flight delays, while rain and snow was predicted to make trouble in Salt Lake City, and the state of Washington.

High wind warnings were issued Friday in Denver, which was bracing for wind gusts of 50-60 mph. Gusty winds forecast for the higher-elevation mountains of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and Montana were expected to be accompanied by accumulations of 6 inches of snow.

Elsewhere in the West, a strong disturbance will produce heavy amounts of scattered snow in the Rocky Mountains.

The Pacific Northwest was expecting blustery conditions a day after winds gusted to 90 mph on the Washington coast and snow and rain across the state caused scattered power outages and traffic problems.

One death was reported on snowy roads, and the eastbound lanes of Interstate 90, Washington's principal east-west artery, were closed for about four hours early Friday because of fallen trees.

In Oregon, wind speeds were clocked at about 50 mph along the coastline. Portland General Electric and Pacificorp said the high winds and falling trees temporarily cut service to about 45,000 customers throughout the state.

In Tulare County, California, chilly winter weather has forced citrus fruit growers to use powerful wind machines and water pumps to save their crops from ruin. But a power shortage in the region was threatening to force farmers to turn off those machines and pumps.

In Arkansas, more than 80,000 homes and businesses were without power Friday. More than 100 schools were closed statewide. Two people in Arkansas died on Thursday in traffic accidents blamed on slick roads. About 80 percent of homes without power were expected to be back on line by Saturday, although some customers might have to wait as late as Tuesday or Wednesday, said David Lewis, a spokesman for Entergy Arkansas, the state's largest electric utility.

Texas claimed about the same number of customers without power as Arkansas and some residents in East Texas were told they would be in the dark through the weekend.

Meanwhile on the East Coast, snow and ice were also forecast for central New York and New England, including Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Wintry blast hits Northeast U.S., disrupts travel
December 14, 2000
Ice storm coats parts of Southern U.S.
December 13, 2000
Wintry weather from Texas to Northeast; Midwest digs out
December 12, 2000
Chicago braces for blizzard; storm hits Midwest
December 11, 2000
Cold front could further strain California's power supply
December 8, 2000

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