Spring came in with a bang across the country as a powerful storm brought everything from blizzards to tornadoes, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. While parts of the Midwest got buried under more than a foot of snow, other areas faced roaring winds, raging wildfires, and torn-apart neighborhoods. And it’s not over yet—this same storm is now headed for the East Coast.
Millions woke up Thursday to a mess left behind by Mother Nature’s wrath. In the Midwest, the snowstorm was relentless. Blinding whiteouts stretched from Kansas to Minnesota, making roads nearly impossible to navigate. Nebraska officials had to shut down highways, warning people to stay home after overturned semis, downed power lines, and dangerous crashes made travel life-threatening. One state trooper put it simply: “This is the worst storm of the season.” Some of the hardest-hit areas included Lakota, Iowa, which got walloped with 14.5 inches of snow, and Waco, Nebraska, which saw a full foot.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the storm, the situation was just as chaotic. In Gary, Indiana, tornadoes tore through neighborhoods, ripping roofs off homes and leaving dozens of people without a place to stay. A woman was pulled from the rubble after her house collapsed—thankfully, she made it to the hospital and is stable. Eight tornadoes also hit parts of Illinois, while powerful winds near Chicago and Indianapolis caused even more damage.
The storm didn’t just bring snow and twisters. In Texas, it kicked up a windstorm so intense it blocked out the sun. Southern states faced massive wildfires fueled by these fierce gusts, forcing firefighters to battle flames spreading dangerously fast. Arkansas reported 38 wildfires, while Florida crews fought a massive 22,000-acre blaze near Miami that was only 20% contained. Officials warned that conditions were perfect for fires to spark and spread quickly, especially with Florida under a red flag warning for most of the day.
For millions of people, the storm is still causing problems. By Thursday morning, 10 million were under winter weather warnings, and airports from Chicago to Washington, D.C., braced for delays due to wind, rain, and snow. Heavy downpours were expected to drench the I-94 corridor, adding to the chaos.
As the week wraps up, winter isn’t going away quietly. By Friday, the storm’s last punch will bring wet snow to northern New England and icy winds across the Northeast before finally moving out. But with spring off to this kind of start, it’s clear that the wild weather isn’t done just yet.
