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Powerful winter storm cuts power, disrupts travel
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-12-20 11:18

"When you combine ice, which is an electric utility's nightmare, with wind, you've got some serious issues," said Indiana Michigan Power spokesman Mark Brian.

Freezing rain was also a problem in Iowa, but authorities there said only scattered power outages were reported, because there wasn't much wind to bring ice-laden tree limbs down onto power lines.


A car makes its way across a street during a snow storm in Chicago. A snowstorm blanketing much of the northeast of the United States snarled air traffic Friday and prompted a government shutdown in Massachusetts.[Agencies] 

A foot or more of snow fell in parts of Michigan, and some areas reported wind gusts of up to 25 to 30 mph. Nearly 8 inches of snow had fallen in Detroit by midafternoon.

Schools were closed across the region. The Toledo Zoo was forced to cancel its holiday season light show for Friday evening.

In Madison, Wis., "The Nutcracker" went on as scheduled, but the expected audience of 2,000 dwindled to about 150 thanks to school closings.

"I told the cast after warm-ups all you need for a show is one (person)," said W. Earle Smith, artistic director of the Madison Ballet.