MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A deadly storm system churning through the central U.S. has blanketed parts of the Upper Midwest in heavy snow and ice and battered areas farther south with powerful winds and even tornadoes.
About 200 flights were cancelled Sunday at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, where two runways were open but nearly 13 inches (33 centimeters) of snow combined with strong winds were making it difficult to keep the runways open and the planes de-iced, spokesman Patrick Hogan said. On Saturday, the storm caused the cancellation of nearly 470 flights at the airport.
The wintry grip on the Twin Cities continued to keep the boys of summer off the diamond, forcing the postponement of the third straight Twins-White Sox game. The Yankees and Tigers were rained out Saturday in Detroit and had planned to play a double-header on Sunday, but the first game of Sunday's twin bill was also postponed, leaving just the night game.
Two northeastern Wisconsin communities, Tigerton and Big Falls, received more than 2 feet (61 centimeters) of snow over the weekend, the National Weather Service in Green Bay reported. Parts of the state that were already blanketed were getting a second helping of snow on Sunday.
The storm finally let up in South Dakota, allowing the airport in the state's largest city, Sioux Falls, to reopen for the first time since Thursday. Interstates 90 and 29 in parts of eastern South Dakota also reopened, and no-travel advisories were lifted across the state border in southwestern Minnesota. The weather service predicted that a large swath of southern Minnesota, including the Twin Cities, could get up to 20 inches of snow (51 centimeters) by the time the storm moves eastward into New England.
Keith White, a weather service meteorologist in Marquette, Michigan, said moderate to heavy snow was falling Sunday morning in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. He said more than a foot was possible by early Monday in the communities of Ishpeming and Negaunee, west of Marquette. Powerful winds knocked out power to thousands of customers in Michigan, which was expected to get more snow and ice throughout the weekend.
The weather service also warned of potential coastal flooding along Lake Michigan in Wisconsin and Illinois, where Chicago residents were warned that waves could reach as high as 18 feet (5.5 meters).
There have been three deaths blamed on the storm system, which stretched from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes. A sleeping 2-year-old girl in Louisiana was killed when a tree fell on her family's recreational vehicle early Saturday. A Wisconsin woman was killed when she lost control of her minivan on slick roads and veered into an oncoming SUV. And an Idaho truck driver was killed when his semitrailer struck a semi in western Nebraska that had been stranded on a highway by the bad weather.
In Arkansas, a tornado ripped through the tiny Ozark Mountain town of Mountainburg on Friday, injuring at least four people. Video showed uprooted trees, overturned cars, damaged buildings and downed power lines. Powerful winds also damaged several buildings at the University of Central Arkansas, though no injuries were reported there.
The storm made its mark in Texas, where hail the size of hen eggs fell south of Dallas, according to meteorologist Patricia Sanchez. In Austin, fire officials said strong winds helped spread the flames after lightning struck and badly damaged two houses.
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Callahan reported from Indianapolis.
James Schoenhard, with Schoenhard Lawn Care, plows sidewalks with his team downtown Saturday, April 14, in Sioux Falls, S.D. (Briana Sanchez/The Argus Leader via AP)
Delta Airlines flight attendant Victoria Flees trudges through the snow with her bags in downtown Minneapolis on the way back home from the light rail station after her flight to Paris was grounded along with all other planes at MSP because of weather, Saturday, April 14, 2018. The National Weather Service predicts 9 to 15 inches of snow across a large swath of southern Minnesota including the Twin Cities before it's all over. (Anthony Souffle/Star Tribune via AP)
James Schoenhard, with Schoenhard Lawn Care, plows sidewalks with his team downtown Saturday, April 14, in Sioux Falls, S.D. A storm system stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes has dumped a foot of snow on parts of the upper Midwest. (Briana Sanchez/The Argus Leader via AP)
Niko Heiligman, of Aachen, Germany, and Lea Stimpel walk along the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis during a snow storm on Saturday, April 14, 2018. The National Weather Service predicts 9 to 15 inches of snow across a large swath of southern Minnesota including the Twin Cities before it's all over. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski.
The field is covered as the Yankees and Tigers were rained out Saturday, April 14, 2018 in Detroit. The Yankees beat the Tigers 8-6 on Friday night, and the teams will try to play a split doubleheader Sunday to finish this three-game series — but the weather then might not be any better. (AP Photo/Noah Trister)
This photo provided by Nebraska State Patrol show stranded motorists including several trucks on Interstate 80 near Sidney, Neb., Friday, April 13, 2018. A potent spring storm system that's expected to persist through the weekend raked across the Midwest. ( Nebraska State Patrol via AP)
Cheryl Kolosso and her husband Dave collaborate to clear heavy snow at their home during a snowstorm Saturday, April 14, 2018, in Appleton, Wis. (Dan Powers/The Post-Crescent via AP)
Bryce Rosenau, 13, left, makes a snow fort with his brother Blake, 10, and sister Elise, 15, right, during a snowstorm Saturday, April 14, 2018, in Appleton, Wis. (Dan Powers/The Post-Crescent via AP)
Colleen Streefland brushes snow and ice of her vehicle during a storm Saturday, April 14, 2018, in Rochester, Minn. A storm system stretching from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes buffeted the central U.S. with heavy winds, rain, hail and snow, (Joe Ahlquist /The Rochester Post-Bulletin via AP)
M.B. Haskett cook Mark Romanowski shovels snow in front of the restaurant, Saturday, April 14, in Sioux Falls, S.D. M.B. Haskett was one of the few restaurants open downtown Saturday. (Briana Sanchez /The Argus Leader via AP)
Johannes Madsen, 13, left, and friend Bode Young, 11, play with a remote control car during a storm Saturday, April 14, 2018, in Rochester, Minn. A storm system stretching from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes buffeted the central U.S. with heavy winds, rain, hail and snow, (Joe Ahlquist /The Rochester Post-Bulletin via AP)
Travelers at the Metro Government Center Plaza station wait for a train as the snow picked up in downtown Minneapolis, Saturday, April 14, 2018. The National Weather Service predicts 9 to 15 inches of snow across a large swath of southern Minnesota including the Twin Cities before it's all over. (Anthony Souffle/Star Tribune via AP)
Lost snow gear is tied to the fence at Minnehaha Off-Leash Dog Park on Saturday, April 14, 2018 in Minneapolis. The National Weather Service predicts 9 to 15 inches of snow across a large swath of southern Minnesota including the Twin Cities before it's all over. (Ellen Schmidt/Star Tribune via AP)