Market News & Headlines >> New "Bomb" Cyclone Slams Central U.S.

The central U.S. is being pummeled by a so-called “bomb cyclone” for the second time in the past month, with parts of the central/northern U.S. Plains and western Midwest experiencing blizzard conditions, while high winds are creating dangerous wildfire conditions in the southern Plains. 

The storm has caused road closures and power outages resulting in some closures of grain elevators as well as grain and meat processing plants. Livestock stress has reached extreme levels in some locations, where the strongest winds, heaviest snow and coolest temperatures are present, according to World Weather Inc. 

Grain trader Cargill Inc told Reuters News Service it was closing three of its grain handling facilities in Minnesota, two in South Dakota and one in Nebraska on Thursday because of the storm. It also was closing a beef processing plant in Colorado. 

World Weather says in a Thursday morning report that the severe storm system will continue to impact the region for another 24 hours through Friday morning. Additional snow will occur today and Friday in portions of the northern Plains and Upper Midwest with strong wind speeds still occurring. Significant travel delays may last for another day or two.

Snowfall during the 24 hours ending at dawn on Thursday was greatest from northern Nebraska and southeast Wyoming into much of South Dakota outside the southeast corner and portions of southern Minnesota and western and central Wisconsin. Accumulations for the 24-hour period ending dawn this morning ranged from 6 to 18 inches with portions of eastern South Dakota receiving more than 18 inches of snow. 

Strong wind speeds were associated with the heavy snow in several locations. Wind gusts near and above 50 miles per hour were noted at times, with portions of eastern Colorado reporting gusts upwards of 100 mph.