Deadly snowstorms and ice storms hit the central United States post-Christmas, causing power outages, infrastructure damage and loss of life.
The storm began on Saturday, December 24, 2023, and moved from north to south, crossing the states of Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. This storm caused heavy snowfall, strong winds, and hail.
In Minnesota, the storm dumped up to 24 inches of snowfall in some areas. Strong winds reached speeds of up to 70 mph, causing damage to buildings and infrastructure. Hail up to 2 inches in size also occurred in some areas, causing damage to cars and buildings.
In Iowa, the storm brought up to 20 inches of snowfall in some areas. Strong winds reached speeds of up to 60 mph, causing power outages to more than 100,000 households. Hail up to 1.5 inches in size also occurred in some areas.
In Missouri, the storm dumped up to 18 inches of snowfall in some areas. Strong winds reached speeds of up to 50 mph, causing power outages to more than 50,000 households. Hail up to 1 inch in size also occurred in some areas.
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In Illinois, the storm brought up to 16 inches of snowfall in some areas. Strong winds reached speeds of up to 40 mph, causing power outages to more than 30,000 households. Hail up to 0.5 inches in size also occurred in some areas.
In Indiana, the storm dumped up to 14 inches of snowfall in some areas. Strong winds reached speeds of up to 30 mph, causing power outages to more than 20,000 households. Hail up to 0.25 inches in size also occurred in some areas.
In Kentucky, the storm brought up to 12 inches of snowfall in some areas. Strong winds reached speeds of up to 20 mph, causing power outages to more than 10,000 households. Hail up to 0.1 inch in size also occurred in some areas.
This storm has left at least 10 people dead, including a 10-year-old child in Minnesota. The storm also caused significant infrastructure damage, including power outages, building damage, and road closures.
The federal government has declared a state of emergency in several states affected by the storm. United States Army and Air Force troops have been deployed to assist with the recovery.
This snowstorms is said to be the deadly and worst to hit the central United States. This storm has caused significant material losses and casualties.