Cars stranded, buildings closed as storm moves east

The Associated Press

FARGO, N.D. -- Snow-shrouded North Dakota highways were strewn with abandoned cars and trucks Thursday and tens of thousands of people across the Midwest were left without electricity after a blast of violent weather.

Wednesday's storms were blamed for at least six deaths, including four in North Dakota. In Tennessee, a 4-year-old girl was killed and her mother critically injured after a tree toppled by 70 mph winds fell on their apartment.

The surprisingly early blizzard began to move out after leaving nearly 11 inches of snow in Grand Forks and parts of Minnesota, and roads were covered with icy ruts. Heavy snow was forecast for Michigan's Upper Peninsula and parts of Wisconsin and Minnesota as the storm pushed eastward.

In Michigan, about 41,000 customers were still without electricity Thursday, a day after gusts of over 70 mph destroyed eight mobile homes south of Tekonsha. Seven people were treated for minor injuries.

At least 65,000 customers lost power in Ohio, Illinois, Tennessee during the storm.

In the Illinois town of Monticello, a tornado tore the roof off a church, damaged businesses and apartments and uprooted 100-year-old trees.

In Tennessee, a radio tower fell across a highway in Sumner County, and a 20-foot steeple was blown off a church in Wilson County while services were being held. No one was injured in those incidents.

In Wisconsin, a rare October hailstorm battered Racine, denting car hoods, smashing skylights and leaving hills of ice in some yards.

In North Dakota, about two dozen school districts in the northern Red River Valley of North Dakota called off classes Thursday. Morning flights were canceled at the Grand Forks airport.

Hundreds of vehicles remained stalled on North Dakota highways as blowing snow continued to be a problem on Thursday. The wet, heavy snow was a challenge for snowplows.