Snowstorm Blasts Midwest, Causes Travel Nightmares
A weekend storm leaves drivers stranded and caused a stadium roof to collapse.
Dec. 13, 2010— -- Midwest residents are bracing for bitter cold temperatures today after a powerful snow storm has been blamed for at least six weather-related deaths, canceling flights and causing the roof of a stadium to collapse Sunday.
From Minnesota to Chicago, the massive storm – 1,500 miles across at its widest part, dumped a foot and a half of snow in some areas.
The snowy conditions have been blamed for at least six deaths over the weekend as motorists endured zero visibility driving conditions amid highway closings in five states.
The blast of Canadian cold air headed southward after the season's first snowfall swept through cities in the Midwest and the Northeast.
Now these cities are experiencing frigid cold temperatures.
Winter weather warnings have been issued for 30 states along the East Coast including a freeze warning in Florida, with temperatures in some areas expected to fall into the 20s.
Today in Minneapolis, temperatures are expected to drop to 15 degrees with a low of only 2 degrees.
Snow Blamed for Metrodome Collapse
In Minneapolis, the city was hit with the worst snowfall in almost 20 years with more than 2 feet of snow in some areas.
The Metrodome stadium's roof collapsed under the weight of the 17 inches of snow.
No injuries were reported.
Sunday's game between the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants was rescheduled to today and will be played in Detroit instead.
Metrodome officials said they are optimistic they will have the stadium fixed for next week's game between the Vikings and the Chicago Bears.
Storm Cancels Flights, Closes Highways
The storm shut down Minnesota's Twin Cities airport Saturday and Chicago's O'Hare airport canceled about 1,400 flights. More than 300 flights were canceled at Chicago's other airport, Midway.
Low visibility and snow closed interstate highways in five states. In St. Louis, a semi truck skidded off the highway.
In Wisconsin, two people died in separate snow-related accidents on Saturday ABC News Minneapolis-St. Paul affiliate KSTP reported. Clifford Larson was killed after he was struck by a snow plow in the Village of Woodville, located about 27 miles east of Hudson. Kenneth Swanson died after he became trapped in a collapsed livestock shelter, St. Croix County Sheriff Department officials said.
Authorities said two people were killed in two separate weather-related accidents in Michigan.
On Sunday, a Chicago woman was killed after a car she was riding in lost control and crashed into a tree in southeastern Wisconsin, the Associated Press reported.
In Minnesota, authorities said a 55-year-old man suffered a heart attack while he was snow-blowing the driveway, according to the Associated Press.
ABC News' Sam Champion and Clayton Sandell and the Associated Press contributed to this report.