Extreme Weather Across US Ushers in Calendar Change

Posted: May 2, 2023 3:00 pm

The last few days have seen a variety of extreme weather events across the U.S. Here is a look back at some of the most noteworthy events caused by the erratic spring weather.

Deadly Pileup Kills Six in Illinois

At least six people lost their lives on Monday after a deadly pileup on a major highway in central Illinois. A dust storm triggered by gusty winds and newly plowed farm fields created low visibility across Interstate 55.

The result was a 72-vehicle pileup that killed at least six people and injured over 30 more. Injuries range from minor to life-threatening.

The fiery crash happened shortly before 11 am local time in the northbound lanes of the interstate near milepost 76, located just south of the state capital of Springfield.

There were also numerous crashes reported nearby in the southbound lanes. The interstate was closed for about 20 hours following the accident, opening again at about 7 am Tuesday.

Video and snapshots coming from the scene painted a grim picture with dust swirling in the air after the crash. Several tractor-trailer trucks were a part of the pileup. Two of these tractor-trailers erupted into flames.

The accident elicited a vast emergency response, including 10 helicopters. School buses were sent out to transport the uninjured motorists to safety.

Heavy Snow Blankets Upper Midwest

The first day of May brought heavy snow to parts of the Upper Midwest, burying some communities in snowfall measuring up to one foot. Ishpeming, Michigan recorded 17.5 inches of snow while neighboring Marquette got all the way up to 19.7 inches before the snow fizzled out late Monday.

This amount in Marquette easily beat the daily snowfall record of 5.4 inches set back in 2019.

The northern tier of Wisconsin also saw significant snow out of this late-season system. The town of Giles recorded 13 inches of snow. Over 2 inches dropped in Green Bay, breaking the record for the highest total of snow on May 1.

The event was also the first time that the home of the Green Bay Packers saw measurable snowfall in the month of May since 2010.

The northeastern corner of Minnesota also got in on the spring snow action. The highest total recorded was 3.2 inches falling near Sea Gull Lake.

Measurable snow was still falling in parts of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on Tuesday morning. The area surrounding Gaylord recorded 5.2 inches of snow as the storm finally begins to wrap up.

The wintry storm is the result of a stalled zone of low pressure hanging out over the Great Lakes. The barometric pressure over the Great Lakes is similar to that of a strong tropical storm, whipping up strong winds and creating large waves across the lakes.

In addition to the snow and the wind, the weather maker is also bringing unseasonably cold temperatures to the Midwest, the Great Lakes, and the Ohio Valley to start the week. The cooler temperatures will move out of this part of the country by Wednesday.

However, the below normal readings will then land in the mid-Atlantic Northeast to close out the work week. The unsettled conditions will be the story for the East Coast until the weekend when drier and warmer weather is on tap.

EF3 Tornado Causes Significant Damage in Virginia

While snow was building across the Upper Midwest, a severe weather outbreak was causing a different set of impacts for the mid-Atlantic.

The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Wakefield, Virginia confirmed on Monday that an EF3 tornado hit Virginia Beach on Sunday evening.

A state of emergency was put into effect after the twister touched down in the Great Neck portion of the coastal city. Many boats in the region also sustained significant damage after being flipped over in the water.

Officials estimate that the tornado damaged 50 to 100 homes. There were no fatalities or injuries reported as a result of the outbreak.

Did you find this content useful? Feel free to bookmark or to post to your timeline for reference later.

Recent Posts