At Least 11 Dead As Winter Storm Cara Slams Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas

Anna Norris
Published: November 29,2015

Winter Storm Cara has proven a wintry menace across much of the country, creating icy conditions that contributed to at least 11 deaths, knocking out power to more than 110,000 Oklahoma customers, and dumping more than a foot of snow in some areas. Although the storm is winding down, lingering freezing rain and freezing drizzle will continue to impact parts of the Plains into Sunday afternoon.
(MORE: Winter Storm Cara Forecast)
Here are the latest impacts as Cara in the in both the central and western United States.

Kansas

Authorities have blamed icy conditions for six deaths statewide, including four traffic deaths in the Wichita area Saturday.

According to Harvey County Sheriff T. Walton, icy roads caused a crash Friday afternoon that left two dead southeast of Newton. The Kansas Turnpike Authority reports that two more people were killed just hours later after a tractor trailer was jack-knifed and struck an SUV on an icy stretch of Interstate 35.

Two other traffic-related deaths caused by icy road conditions occurred in western Kansas. Friday in Hodgeman County, a car ran off an icy road, hit a ditch and rolled, killing the driver. Thursday another motorist died near Holcomb when he was ejected from a pickup that hit some ice, rolled and hit a car.

In Reno County, an ice storm caused downed tree limbs and power lines across the area, leaving more than 600 homes without power, according to NWS.

An ice storm in Sedgewick County also caused downed power lines, leaving 100 homes powerless. In Butler County, an ice storm left 820 homes without power, 

Westar Energy reported that about 4,500 customers were affected by power outages in the Wichita area Friday.

The ice storm caused a widespread power outage in the city of Anthony, according to the National Weather Service. 

Texas

Three people were killed Thursday evening due to an ice-related car crash on Interstate 40 near Vega, according to NWS.
In Amarillo, a semi truck crashed into an Outback Steakhouse off Interstate 40 near South Coulter Street. In a release, Amarillo police said the semi was struck by a pickup truck  sending it flying into several trees, and the restaurant parking lot where it would hit roughly six cars before slamming into the west side of the building. ABC 7 reports that the entire front cab of the truck was inside the restaurant. Patrons inside the restaurant were evacuated and all staff were accounted for.
"We are in the middle of Winter Storm Cara and as you can see ... there is ice all over the road," said Adria Iraheta, a reporter for KVII-TV in Amarillo in a Periscope video shot at the scene of the crash.

Oklahoma

Winds, freezing rain and sleet affected power lines northwest of Oklahoma City, leaving more than 100,000 customers without power.
According to the OG&E website, 56,403 customers were without power around midday Saturday, mainly in the Oklahoma City area. Caddo Electric Company reported that about 14,000 of their 18,000 customers were powerless Wednesday afternoon in areas just southwest of Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma's other large power utility, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, reported nearly 10,000 customers in the dark around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, mostly in southwest Oklahoma.
Multiple smaller electric cooperatives also reported power loss for their customers. As of 2:30 p.m. Wednesday those included Oklahoma Electric Cooperative with about 2,000 (down from 6,000 in the morning); Cimmaron Electric Cooperative with 2,355; and Alfalfa Electric Cooperative with 2,271 people without power. Around midday, 38 percent of Alfalfa's 8,453 customers had been without power.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol tweeted Saturday that several roads were closed due to downed power lines. Additionally, downed power lines caused the closure of the Kilpatrick Turnpike. All have been re-opened.

Minnesota

Snow covered roads caused multiple crashes and spinouts, including a jacknifed semi, along I-90 between Adrian and Jackson Thursday morning the Minnesota Department of Transportation reported. Roads are completely or partially covered with snow over a large swath of the southern part of the state.
The Minnesota State Patrol reported there were 139 crashes, including 64 vehicles going off road and 21 rollovers, as of 9 p.m. Thursday, reported WCCO-TV.

Missouri

Four traffic deaths were reported due to icy roads in Missouri. The Kansas City Star reports that all of the accidents took place in the 13 counties in west-central Missouri patrolled by Missouri Highway Patrol’s Troop A.
One man was killed on the Missouri side of Kansas City after losing control of his truck and overturning it on an icy patch of 210 Highway near Eldon Road. According to Fox 4, the truck went over a curb, through a median, and hit a guardrail before landing on the other side of the highway.
In St. Joseph, local police responded to 18 vehicular accidents between 5 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Friday. None of those accidents were fatal, according to St. Joseph News-Press.

Wyoming

Thursday the Wyoming Highway Patrol looked into 52 crashes through 1 p.m., reports KGWN. Seventeen crashes involved injuries, 33 were identified as property damage only and two were listed as hit and run with property damage only. Troopers also assisted 107 motorists whose vehicles were stranded or broken down.
US 191 was closed due to winter conditions between the Utah state line and I-80 Thursday morning.

Idaho

The National Weather Service in Pocatello reported multiple vehicles slid off the road on Interstate 15 Wednesday afternoon in the Fort Hall area, where KPVI reported traffic on the highway was at a standstill.

California

After some motorists became trapped in the snow, roadways had to be shut down, reports the Los Angeles Times.
Officials were forced to shut down two roadways due to snowfall near Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear Thursday. On Highway 189, the area stretching from Lake Gregory to Strawberry Lodge were closed due to snow, as well.
Road conditions on Interstate 80 led to spin-outs Tuesday, and the California Department of Transportation reported that chains were required on all vehicles except those equipped with snow tires on all four wheels in several stretches of road throughout the states. Check the latest travel conditions here.

Montana

Inclement conditions prompted the Missoula County Sheriff's Office to advise motorists against traveling, unless for an emergency, Tuesday night, NBC Montana reported. Poor conditions also caused Mountain Line buses to experience delays, and in one case, cancel route operations.
North of Missoula, ice forced the closure of U.S. Highway 93 for several hours on Tuesday, according to the Missoulian. The highway reopened at 7 p.m. local time Tuesday night, the report added.
"Vehicles aren't able to gain enough speed to get up the hill." the Missoula County Sheriff's Department posted on Facebook during the closure. "At this time, there is one lane of traffic moving SLOWLY! Deputies are out and advising that people only drive if it's absolutely necessary. Be safe out there!"

Multiple accidents, including jackknifed semis and bus incidents, were reported in the Flathead and Missoula areas, some of which resulted in injuries, NBC Montana added.

Nevada

With winds up to 60 miles per hour in Lake Tahoe, residents in northern Nevada faced upwards of 3,000 power outages before noon Tuesday. High winds also accompanied a reported dust storm in Pershing County and Churchill County, with reduced visibility threatening road conditions in both locations.  
"Dry southwesterly winds gusted as high as 46 mph along Interstate 80 near Lovelock around midday Tuesday," Wiltgen said. "Those winds were blowing across the Humboldt Sink, an intermittent dry lake bed in that area, and kicking up blowing dust as a result."
Heavy snow along I-80 caused multiple crashes but no major accidents from Reno across state lines to Truckee, California. "Lots of wrecks, lots of snow," California Highway Patrol Trooper Jeff Billings told the Reno Gazette-Journal. "The best thing to do is to not even go [on I-80]."

Oregon

Heavy snowfall along Interstate 5 caused multiple car accidents and delays, according to TripCheck.

Washington

Strong winds gusting 25 to 40 miles per hour caused downed trees and power lines in Kitsap County, west of Seattle, KIRO-TV reported, affecting more than 40,000 Puget Sound Energy customers and causing several closures. Crews worked overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday morning to restore power to those residents.

Several Kitsap County roads were closed due to downed trees or power lines, KIRO-TV also reported.
Snow on the ground has schools delayed and closing in the Yakima Valley; see the latest here. The Spokesman-Review reports Spokane Public Schools also canceled classes Tuesday, the fifth day of closures for the district, starting their Thanksgiving vacation a day early.
Meanwhile, thousands of customers in Spokane remained without power during Winter Storm Cara, one week after wind storms hit the state and caused what the utility company called the worst natural disaster Avista has experienced in its 126-year history.
“We are keenly aware of the hardship, stress and frustration people are experiencing, particularly with today’s weather and the holiday approaching,” said Avista CEO Scott Morris. “Our crews and support staff will be working through the Thanksgiving holiday, and we will do what it takes to restore power to every last customer.”
In a press release Friday, Avista said the final customers were returned to service at 3:45 a.m. Friday, some 10 days after the wind event.
This is a developing story; please check back frequently for updates. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Winter Storm Cara