North Dakota began shutting major interstates and at least two people were dead in Minnesota as snow, ice and heavy winds from a winter storm bared down on the Midwest all the way through to New England.
Winter Storm Gage, the name given by The Weather Channel, is currently battering an area stretching from the Upper Midwest through the Northern and Central Plains, causing crashes and rollovers and leading to road closings.
Officials across the upper Midwest are urging drivers to stay off all roads.
Blizzard warnings have been issued for eastern North Dakota and eastern Minnesota, winter storm warnings have been given for the majority of South Dakota and Nebraska, and a winter storm warning was issued for Wisconsin.
BURIED: Instagram users shared photos of the blizzard in Fargo, North Dakota, on Sunday night
Skiing provided a better travel option along a local street in Fargo, North Dakota, as seen another Instagram post
In North Dakota, all of Interstate 29 and Interstate 94 between Bismarck and Fargo were closed in both directions, reports the Weather Channel.
Travel was discouraged across much of the rest of eastern North Dakota. The State Patrol said secondary roads were in worse shape.
Highway troopers and state snowplow operators had to rescue drivers stranded along the I-29 near Gardner, North Dakota, the Valley News reported.
The city of Fargo even issued a rare no-travel advisory.
‘In our history, the city has rarely issued no travel advisories and only does so when conditions require’, city officials said in a Facebook post.
Interstate 90 was closed in both directions in South Dakota.
At 1 p.m., the Highway Patrol said conditions from Rapid City to Mitchell were not improving, and I-90 would remain closed through the night.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Department of Transportation had a ‘no travel advisory’ on state and federal highways in Clay County, Becker County, Polk County, and northern portions of Otter Tail County, reports the Weather Channel.
Highway 108 from Interstate 94 to Pelican Rapids and I-94 from Moorhead to Highway 108 and Highway 10 from Moorhead to Hawley were also off limits under the advisory.
The Minnesota State Patrol had troopers responding to several crashes and vehicles that slid off the road throughout the night, Sgt. Jose Grabow told the Weather Channel.
First responders responded to 470 crashes, including 270 spinouts and 13 jackknifed semitrailers, across Minnesota on Saturday as the roads iced over.
Forty-three accidents involved injuries and two were fatal, KMSP reported.
The Minnesota State Patrol said an 82-year-old man died about 6:30 a.m. Saturday near Lino Lakes when his vehicle slid off an icy road and rolled into a ditch, the Pioneer Press reported.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation had a ‘no travel advisory’ on state and federal highways in Clay County, Becker County, Polk County, and northern portions of Otter Tail County. Highway 108 from Interstate 94 to Pelican Rapids and I-94 from Moorhead to Highway 108 and Highway 10 from Moorhead to Hawley were also off limits under the advisory.
Snow also covered most of the roads in west, north and central Nebraska, the state patrol said, the Weather Channel reports.
A multi-vehicle crash shut down Interstate 80 eastbound near Ashland, Nebraska, for more than an hour shortly after noon.
Meanwhile in New England, warnings have been given for an area stretching from Bangor, Maine to northeastern Pennsylvania.
Several airlines have issued travel waivers due to the storms and the impacts could been seen through New Year’s Day and into the coming weekend.
A winter storm is bringing snow, ice and heavy winds through the Midwest and New England, potentially interfering with the travel plans of millions
At least six inches of snow is expected to fall across the Midwest and Northern Plains through Tuesday
Blizzard warnings have been issued for eastern North Dakota and eastern Minnesota. Pictured: A car stuck in snow in Minnesota from Winter Storm Gage
At Minneapolis/St Paul International Airport alone, there been 75 delays and 13 cancellations alone. Pictured: Traffic crossing the bridge across the Rouchleau Pit in Virginia, Minnesota on Sunday
According to flight tracking website, FlightAware, there have been 516 delays and 20 cancellations between 10am and 2pm at 30 airports across the country.
At Minneapolis/St Paul International Airport alone, there been 75 delays and 13 cancellations alone.
The Point Guys reports that American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines all issued travel waivers for flights in the Upper Midwest for Saturday and Sunday.
On Sunday, the Weather Channel states that snow and winds will hit the Plains and Midwest.
In the Northeast, rain will hammer the region through Sunday night, but warmer winds will prevent the precipitation from turning into snow and ice.
On Monday night, an area from upstate New York to northern new England will be hit with snow, sleet and freezing rain thanks to a bout of cold air.
Light snowfall will also affect the Great Lakes, including Wisconsin and Minnesota, and the Northern Plains of North Dakota and South Dakota.
In New England and upstate New York, residents are expecting six inches or more of snow mixed with sleet and freezing rain
Winter storm warnings have been given for the majority of South Dakota and Nebraska, and a winter storm warning was issued for Wisconsin
On Sunday, there has been 516 delays and 20 cancellations at 30 airports across the country. Pictured: A truck toppled over in snow in Minnesota from Winter Storm Gage
According to the Weather Channel, the eastern Dakotas, northern Minnesota and northern Wisconsin will get at least six inches of snow from Winter Storm Gage.
In New England and eastern upstate New York, residents could see six or more inches of snow, although this might be mixed with freezing rain and sleet.
Meteorologists predict that between a half-inch and three-quarters of an inch of ice will affect eastern upstate New York into western New England.
However, this is for higher elevations above 1,800 feet with much less significant accumulation in areas below 1,000 feet elevation.