A massive winter storm slammed the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest with high winds and heavy snow forced the closure of hundreds of schools, grounded flights, and made travel on the road challenging in some parts of the United States.
As the storm rolled across a sizable portion of the western and northern United States and into the East on Wednesday morning, more than 50 million Americans were under winter weather advisories. In certain areas, the National Weather Service predicted gusts of up to 60 miles per hour and snowfall of up to 2 feet (60 cm) over the day and into Thursday.
Around 17 inches (43 cm) of snow, winds that gusted up to 45 mph (72 kph), and temperatures that lingered around 10 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 5 C) punished people going about their daily lives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Bre Bethke, a manager at M.B. Haskett Delicatessen, remarked, “It’s really cold, but people still want their coffee and eggs,” After being battered by the fierce weather each time she opened a drive-through window for an awaiting customer.
“Our regulars want to come here and get out of the cold. But not today, no way. This is too much.”
