Severe Weather Slams Midwest, Threatens East Coast

Heavy snow, high winds, and tornado risk disrupt travel and power across the U.S.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 5:35pm

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A powerful storm system brought heavy snow, strong winds, and the threat of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes to much of the central and eastern United States on Sunday. Blizzard conditions in the Upper Midwest led to hundreds of flight cancellations at major airports, while high winds caused widespread power outages in parts of the Great Lakes region. The storm system is expected to move eastward, putting the mid-Atlantic states at risk for damaging winds and possible tornadoes on Monday.

Why it matters

This severe weather event is impacting a large swath of the country, disrupting travel, causing power outages, and threatening lives and property across multiple states. The combination of heavy snow, high winds, and the potential for tornadoes highlights the need for advanced weather forecasting and emergency preparedness to keep communities safe.

The details

The storm system dumped over a foot of snow in parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin, making roads impassable and leading to the cancellation of more than 600 flights at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. High winds also caused power outages for over 150,000 customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. In Nebraska, the National Guard has been deployed to combat multiple wildfires that have burned over 900 square miles of land. As the storm system moves eastward, it is expected to bring a line of severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and the possibility of tornadoes to the mid-Atlantic states on Monday.

  • On Sunday, over a foot of snow fell in parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin.
  • On Sunday, high winds caused power outages for over 150,000 customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
  • On Sunday, the National Guard was deployed in Nebraska to combat multiple wildfires.
  • On Monday, the storm system is expected to bring severe thunderstorms and the threat of tornadoes to the mid-Atlantic states.

The players

AccuWeather

A leading provider of weather forecasting and information services.

National Weather Service

The primary weather forecasting agency of the United States government.

Nebraska Emergency Management Agency

The state agency responsible for coordinating emergency response and disaster recovery efforts in Nebraska.

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What they’re saying

“Whether it's wind gusts from a squall line, blizzard or snow, or just wind because of the storm, you're looking at several major airports being impacted.”

— Tyler Roys, Senior Meteorologist, AccuWeather

“Roads are becoming impassable in many of Wisconsin's northern counties. Please stay off the roads to keep yourself and others safe.”

— Wisconsin Department of Transportation (Social Media)

“Winds are supposed to be extraordinary on Sunday.”

— Jim Pillen, Governor of Nebraska (News Release)

What’s next

The National Weather Service has warned that a line of severe storms with damaging winds will cross much of the Eastern U.S. by late Monday, putting the mid-Atlantic states at the highest risk for widespread damaging winds and possible tornadoes.

The takeaway

This severe weather event highlights the need for communities across the country to be prepared for a wide range of extreme weather conditions, from heavy snow and high winds to powerful thunderstorms and tornadoes. Effective emergency planning, real-time weather monitoring, and timely public alerts are crucial to protecting lives and property when these types of storms strike.