US Severe Weather Outbreak

A broad and erratic patchwork of severe weather is impacting much of the United States. The Upper Midwest is experiencing heavy snow and impassable roads, with over 20 inches of snow in some areas of Minnesota and Wisconsin, leading to over 600 flight cancellations at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. High winds are sweeping across the Plains, causing power outages for over 210,000 utility customers in Great Lakes states. Nebraska is battling multiple wildfires, damaging over 900 square miles, with the United States — Nebraska Emergency Management Agency deploying National Guard members. Hawaii continues to be affected by severe flooding, with Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen reporting landslides, sinkholes, and downed power lines after some areas received over 20 inches of rain. Forecasters from AccuWeather and the United States — National Weather Service warn of an eastward spread of storms, threatening the Eastern U.S., including Washington, D.C., with high winds and tornadoes. The extreme weather is attributed to a 'jet stream gone wild' and a polar vortex bringing cold to the Midwest and East, while a heat dome bakes the Southwest.