A powerful ice storm wreaked havoc across Iowa and eastern Nebraska this weekend, creating hazardous road conditions and causing temporary closures along Interstate 80 as cars and trucks skidded off icy highways.
The storm, which began Friday evening, forced the cancellation of numerous events and delayed business openings on Saturday. Officials urged residents to stay home until temperatures rose high enough to melt the ice later in the day.
Tragically, at least one fatality occurred due to the icy roads. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office reported that a 57-year-old woman lost control of her pickup truck on Highway 30 near Arlington, Nebraska, colliding with an oncoming vehicle. The woman died at the scene, while the other driver suffered minor injuries.
Meanwhile, the West Coast faced its own extreme weather as high winds and severe storms triggered the first tornado warning in San Francisco. Winds reaching up to 60 mph prompted a brief warning at 5:51 a.m. on Saturday for about 1 million residents, including parts of San Mateo County.
Though the warning was lifted after 20 minutes, a tornado touched down later in Scotts Valley, approximately 70 miles south of San Francisco.
According to the National Weather Service, the tornado struck near a shopping mall at 1:40 p.m., overturning vehicles and toppling trees and utility poles. Officials are investigating the storm to determine the tornado’s intensity.
This series of storms highlights the unpredictable and destructive power of nature, reminding Americans to stay prepared and heed local authorities’ warnings during severe weather events.
