Blizzard blasts Plains, upper Midwest

GRAND FORKS, N.D., Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Gale-like winds whipped several inches of snow into two-foot drifts in eastern North Dakota Wednesday when what was forecast to be a couple of inches of snow turned into a surprise pre-Halloween blizzard.

Between seven and nine inches of snow was on the ground at Grand Forks, N.D., by early afternoon and 10 inches was predicted in northern Minnesota, prompting officials to issue travel warnings. About 1,000 customers were without electricity in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, Minn.

A National Weather Service meteorologist had forecast "an inch or two of fresh white snow on the ground this morning" but warm winds turned into a winter-like Alberta Clipper from Canada.

Heavy, wet snow created icy conditions and poor visibility on U.S. Highway 2 in eastern North Dakota, reducing traffic to a single lane in each direction.

Secondary roads were extremely hazardous and numerous spinouts were reported to police. Schools closed in Oberon, Warwick, Lakota and Dakota Prairie, the Devils Lake (N.D.) Journal said.

Northern Minnesota was under a blizzard warning with temperatures expected to turn sharply colder Wednesday night with 40 mph winds and scattered snow showers. Whiteout conditions forced some schools to close and children got out their sleds while adults fueled up snowmobiles for a jaunt through the slushy snow. The storm was expected to hit western areas of Michigan's Upper Peninsula on Thursday.

Elsewhere, tornado watches and warnings were posted in northern and central Illinois where a cold front slammed into what had been balmy 60-degree weather triggering heavy rainstorms.