Minneapolis Metrodome Roof Collapses

[BranMan]

17 inches of snow !

http://www.accuweather.com/blogs/news/story/42908/minneapolis-metrodome-roof-col-1.asp

[mezzacyclone]

Not sure but was this already a temporary roof from previous (up to 5 now?) failures and replacements?

SkySports has had to switch to Fox running the Bucs@Redskins game as the Giants & Vikings game is now being played @ Detroit tomorrow.

[Mesoscale]

Home of my american football team Minnesota vikings. We need a new dome anyway lets hope this kicks them up the bum and they build a new one instead of just replacing the roof!

Edited December 12, 2010 by Mesoscale

[Roger J Smith]

The NFL game scheduled for that stadium today has been rescheduled to Detroit (where they also have an indoor stadium) for tomorrow (Vikings were to host NY Giants). Meanwhile, they are playing outside in Chicago right now, in blowing snow and a wind chill of -30 C, apparently the New England Patriots were more ready for it because they are leading the Bears 33-0 at half time (a really unexpected result). I see it's 36-7 now, Bears have finally come out of hibernation.

[Coast]

Snow and storms cause chaos US midwest

Authorities in America have rescued more than 100 motorists in the snow-covered Midwestern state of Indiana who were trapped in their cars in sub-zero temperatures amid a storm that has blamed for at least 15 deaths. Andy Hynek, LaPorte County sheriff's deputy, said officials don't know exactly how many people were stranded, but some had been stuck for as long as 12 hours. The heavy snow in Indiana was part of a slow-moving storm that has been crawling across the central United States since Friday night. The storm dumped nearly 2 feet of snow before it moved further east, with snow in parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York.

The upper Midwest also has been gripped by bone-chilling cold as arctic air swept in behind the storm. Wind chills were well below freezing in many places, and schools in Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and other states shut down because of the snow and cold.Temperatures in some place fell as low as 12F (-11C).

Indiana was hardest hit, with up to 16 inches of "lake effect" snow in some areas. Lake effect snow develops when cold air rushes over the warmer water in the Great Lakes. Crews were using front-end loaders to remove drifts on the US 30 highway, where other drivers were trapped by overnight, Jim Pinkerton, state highway department spokesman, said. Sections of two highways were closed, and with winds of up to 30mph. "As soon as the plows go through an area, the wind is blowing fresh snow right back into the roads," Mr Pinkerton said. "It is just really difficult for us to keep up against that wind and snow." At least 15 deaths in four states have been attributed to the storm.

Eight people died in traffic accidents, and a 79-year-old man snow-blowing the end of his driveway in western Wisconsin was killed when a plow truck backed into him. Four men in Michigan and one in Minnesota died after shovelling or blowing snow, and Kenneth Swanson, 58, of rural Wisconsin, died when a metal shed collapsed from the heavy snow, pinning him under debris and about 3 feet of snow.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8200315/Snow-and-storms-cause-chaos-US-midwest.html

The minus 11C temperature didn't stop hundreds of football fans from lining up hours before free tickets to Monday night's game between the Minnesota Vikings and the New York Giants became available at 9am local time at Ford Field. The game was moved to Detroit after the Minneapolis Metrodome's inflated roof collapsed on Sunday under the weight of heavy snow. Indiana was hardest hit, with up to 16in of "lake effect" snow in some areas. Lake effect snow develops when cold air rushes over the warmer water in the Great Lakes. More than 100 vehicles were trapped by snow drifts on a section of highway in the Valparaiso area.

Police said they were found warm and safe in their vehicles. Crews were using front-end loaders to remove drifts on US 30, where other drivers were trapped overnight, state highway department spokesman Jim Pinkerton said. Sections of two highways were closed, and with winds of up to 30mph, LaPorte and Porter counties issued emergency orders telling drivers to stay off county roads as well.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5g-fdUTUn9N32YK2ShsKGomBauXHw?docId=N0130831292305280756A

[knocker]

Some seriously cold weather in Minnesota and surrounding States as has already been mentioned. A quick glance at Minnesota for 141200UTC plots and a look at the interesting sounding for Minneapolis for the same time.The plots are of course deg. F

Edited December 14, 2010 by weather ship