Winter Storm Selene: 2 Deaths Reported on Icy Wisconsin Interstate

March 24,2016
Two people were reportedly killed as powerful Winter Storm Selene hammered the Rockies, Plains and Midwest Wednesday and Thursday, bringing an entire region to a halt, both on the ground and in the air.
A violent crash in Addison, Wisconsin, left two people in a van dead and sent a truck driver to the hospital, according to WTMJ. Fire officials say the van spun out of control while traveling on the slick northbound Interstate 41. It crossed the median into the southbound lanes, where it collided with an 18-wheel semi.
In Colorado, the state's National Guard resources were deployed to assist with rescue missions as every major highway leading out of Denver was closed, making travel nearly impossible Wednesday afternoon. More than 1,300 flights were canceled Wednesday at Denver International Airport, and officials were forced to halt all operations for several hours due to the severe wintry conditions. Once the roadway leading to the airport was cleared, the airport reopened at 7 p.m. Wednesday night.
More than 30 inches of snow fell from this storm alone in parts of Colorado; when the snow stopped, DIA officially reported 13.1 inches. Further east, the snow continued to fall Thursday on the Upper Midwest.
(MORE: Winter Storm Selene Forecast | Another Round of Severe Targets the South)
Here’s the latest from this winter storm.

Michigan

Top snowfall total: 11 inches, multiple locations
Many schools were not in session because of the snow and freezing rain Thursday, giving students an extra day at the beginning of Spring Break, according to the Associated Press. Mid-Michigan Community College closed its Mount Pleasant and Harrison campuses due to the storm, the Morning Sun of Mount Pleasant reported.
Trees and power lines continued to sag, lean and break underneath the weight of heavy snow Thursday, cutting power to hundreds of homes, reports the Ludington Daily News. The Juniper Hills subdivision and the neighborhoods surrounding Oriole Field had the longest sustained loss of power.
The 911 emergency line in Mason and Oceana counties was down due to power outages, the Ludington Daily News also reported. An electric line came down on a fiber optic cable in the Pentwater area, knocking out service to Mason-Oceana 911. Calls had to be rerouted to the Muskegon Central Dispatch, who passed the information on to Mason-Oceana 911 via non-emergency phones.
As of Thursday evening, more than 1,600 customers remained without power, according to Great Lakes Energy.
In northern Michigan, some bigger vehicles were required to cross the Mackinac Bridge under escort, the AP also said. Scattered power outages were reported in Mason, Oceana and Lake counties, the AP added.

Wisconsin

Top snowfall total: 13 inches, multiple locations
Two people were killed and one was injured in a violent crash in Addison, Wisconsin, Thursday, according to WTMJ. The collision left two people in a van dead and sent a truck driver to the hospital. Fire officials say the van spun out of control while traveling on the slick northbound Interstate 41. It crossed the median into the southbound lanes, where it collided with an 18-wheel semi.
"When our crews first arrived, we thought it was unlikely there would be survivors from that van," Deputy chief Paul Williams told WTMJ. The crash occurred just after 11:00 a.m. and snarled traffic for several hours throughout the afternoon.
Thursday morning, most major roadways across central Wisconsin were either snow- or ice-covered, complicating travel. A few incidents were reported, but all major roadways were open Thursday morning.
Gov. Scott Walker declared a state of emergency in a statement as Winter Storm Selene moved into the Badger State.
This storm "may cause dangerous drifting and blowing snow as well as limited visibility on roads and highways, causing treacherous driving conditions," Walker announced. "As a precautionary measure, we want to ensure all state resources are available and ready, if needed.  We urge all Wisconsinites to be cautious of the weather conditions and remain safe while outside or driving.”
Walker called upon members of the Wisconsin National Guard to active duty to help authorities as needed, the AP reported.
Many schools will be closed Thursday as the state deals with this winter storm; WBAY.com has a full list of all the closings.

Minnesota

Top snowfall total: 12 inches, multiple locations
In south-central Minnesota, authorities advised residents to stay off roads unless travel was necessary Wednesday night into Thursday, the AP reported.
Over 100 flights both departing and arriving into Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport were canceled Wednesday, according to FlightAware. On Thursday morning, cancellations were minimal.
Many Minnesota school districts are closed Thursday; CBS Minnesota has a list.

South Dakota

Top snowfall total: 14.3 inches, near North Sioux City
Southeastern South Dakota was hit hardest by Selene, and the effects of the storm were still being felt Thursday morning. A portion of Interstate 29 was closed Thursday from Sioux City, Iowa, to Highway 50. Wednesday afternoon and evening, thundersnow was reported in this part of the Mount Rushmore State as the storm moved through.
In Rapid City, additional snow-removal crews were brought in overnight Wednesday to battle the storm, and Ellsworth Air Force Base permitted non-essential personnel to report late, the AP also said.
Some school districts will remain closed on Thursday, KSFY.com reported.

Iowa

Top snowfall total: 17 inches, near Sioux City (social media report)
More than a foot of snow fell in parts of northern Iowa from Selene, and officials warned motorists to be careful on roadways if they needed to travel at all. Areas north and east of I-29 were especially hazardous, according to KWWL.com.
Schools have been closed in parts of the state due to the weather; for a full list, check KWWL.com's closings page.

Nebraska

Top snowfall total: 15 inches, near Wakefield
Several highways in Nebraska were closed by Selene, including a stretch of more than 100 miles of I-80 from Brule to the Wyoming state line. Many trucks opted to stop traveling through the state and wait out the winter storm, Becky Buda, a clerk at the Sapp Bros. Travel Center off I-80 in Sidney, told the AP. On Thursday morning, I-80 reopened across the entire state.
A snow alert was declared for the city of North Platte, 1011Now.com reported.

Colorado

Top snowfall total: Up to 31.6 inches, near Pinecliffe
A very dangerous situation unfolded Wednesday when relentless snowfall covered roadways and gusty winds brought visibilities down to unsafe levels for travel. Officials were forced to close Interstates 25, 70 and 76 in all directions out of Denver when the snow became too heavy for the nearly 500 plows to keep up.
"There are many accidents," Colorado State Police Trooper Nate Reid told the Denver Post. "I would never be able to give you a number."
Thursday morning, all interstates reopened except I-70, which remained closed from east of Denver all the way to the Kansas state line.
A "very large number of patients" have been admitted into the University of Colorado Hospital's emergency department as a result of snow-related car accidents, said hospital spokesperson Dan Weaver. "That's been the main cause of patient transports to the hospital (Wednesday)."

Northeast of Colorado Springs, multiple drivers were stranded in the town of Falcon, according to the city's fire department. Colorado's National Guard resources were activated on rescue missions caused by the onslaught of snow, according to the State Emergency Operations Center.  The Guard deployed teams to support stranded motorists on Highway 83 near Monument, on I-70 near Bennett, and on I-76 near Fort Morgan.
Over the course of the day, nearly 200,000 customers lost power Wednesday, Xcel Energy said. As of Thursday afternoon, some 17,000 customers remained without power.
At Denver International Airport, where hundreds of flights into and out of the city were canceled, a power outage was largely to blame for the early-morning headaches. Xcel Energy was able to restore power at the airport a few hours into the outage, but cancellations skyrocketed.
The airport also lost the ability to pump aircraft and deicing fuel during the outage Wednesday morning, local radio host Steffan Tubbs reported via Twitter.

Denver Public Schools, as well as many other schools eastern Colorado, will remain closed Thursday as the region recovers from the storm. The Denver Post has a complete list.
A list of emergency operation centers and shelters in the Greater Denver area can be found here.

Wyoming

Top snowfall total: 16 inches, near Buffalo
Selene forced a closure of Interstate 80 Wednesday morning that spanned more than 300 miles from Rock Springs to the Nebraska state line, according to the AP. I-25 from Douglas to the Colorado state line was also closed Wednesday morning – a stretch of 140 miles. The National Weather Service reported whiteout conditions Wednesday morning in Cheyenne.
"It's pretty much kicking our hineys," Tim McGary of the Wyoming Department of Transportation told the AP. "It's bad enough we can't keep up with it. That's why everything is closed."
By Thursday morning, all major interstates had reopened across the state.
The storm also affected campaign stops in the presidential race. Sen. Bernie Sanders canceled appearances in Laramie and Casper on Wednesday, the AP also reported, and former President Bill Clinton canceled a visit to Cheyenne on behalf of his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Utah

Top snowfall total: 6 inches, near Flaming Gorge Dam
Light snow turned heavy in Salt Lake City Tuesday morning, right around the time of the morning commute. Several minor accidents and slide-offs occurred around the Salt Lake Valley, FOX 13 Salt Lake City reported.
An intrasquad game between the Los Angeles Angels and their Triple-A affiliate, the Salt Lake Bees, was canceled after snow blanketed the city.

The Utah Department of Transportation activated snow plows in order to clear roads of the spring snowfall.
“Already, I think, some of us have our sights set on spring and summer. But, we need to remember to slow down,” said UDOT spokesman John Gleason.

California

Top snowfall total: 16 inches, near Twin Bridges
In areas of the Sierra Nevada, strong winds and snowfall made driving conditions difficult, causing a rollover accident west of Kingvale on I-80, according to ABC 10.
Caltrans, the California Department of Transportation, urged drivers to be alert during the wet and snowy conditions in the Sierra.
"Two things, slow down and be alert," David Wood, a spokesperson for Caltrans, told FOX 40. "Don't let anything distract you. It takes a lot longer to stop on snow, and you never know what's around the corner."
During the storm, an NWS storm report clocked a 113-mph wind gust at the White Mountain Summit Research Station.