Winter Storm Petros Knocks Out Power for Thousands; 1 Dead in Michigan, 1 Missing Near Chicago

Winter Storm Petros struck the Midwest Wednesday and continued into Thursday, bringing heavy snow and whipping winds that caused problems for those in its path. 

A six-year-old girl was killed in Michigan Wednesday afternoon in a car crash partially blamed on snowy conditions created by the storm. As of Thursday, a Chicago-area teenager remains missing after reportedly being swept into the water at Diversey Harbor, according to NBC Chicago. The search had to be suspended due to inclement weather conditions. 

Tens of thousands were without power in Missouri and Illinois as the powerful system made its presence felt, dumping more than a foot of snow. South of Chicago, as many as 50 vehicles were stuck overnight Wednesday in heavy snow along Route 17 in Grant Park, according to local reports.

(MORE: Check the Forecast for Winter Storm Petros)

The system also left its mark on air travel Wednesday. According to FlightAware, nearly 1,000 flights into and out of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport were canceled Wednesday, and nearly 400 more were canceled at Chicago's Midway Airport.

Here are the latest impacts we're seeing from this winter storm.

Illinois

Top snowfall total: 7.8 inches, Crete

Search efforts for a Chicago-area teen had to be called off Thursday due to inclement weather, NBC Chicago reports. The high school senior was swept into Diversey Harbor amid high waves in Lake Michigan, according to the Chicago Fire Department. 

Four divers attempted to locate the boy, but were unsuccesful. The water search was called off around 1 p.m. due to no visibility in the water and extreme agitation in the search area, says Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford. 

Officials believe there is no way the teen could have survived and are treating the operation as a recovery rather than a rescue, according to the Chicago Tribune.

As many as 50 vehicles were stranded overnight Wednesday on Route 17 in Grant Park, according to ABC 7 Chicago. Those drivers were stranded in snow drifts and had to wait for crews to come pull them out, the report added.

One of those motorists, Barb Matthias, told ABC 7 Chicago that she left work at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and was still stranded Thursday morning. She was headed east on Route 17 when the vehicles around her got stuck and she was unable to move.

Elsewhere, drivers had similar problems in the heavy snow.

"We are seeing numerous vehicles in ditches and we've had some accidents," Will County Sheriff's Sgt. Vince Gambino told the Chicago Tribune. "The roads are snow-covered, (but) it's more the wind at this point that's blowing the snow, making visibility limited."

NWS reports of up to 4 inches of snow were confirmed Wednesday in parts of western Illinois as the winter storm moved into the state. Many roads in central Illinois were snow- or ice-covered Wednesday, according to the state Department of Transportation.

Blizzard conditions were verified in Chatsworth Wednesday morning, and in Momence later in the day, according to the NWS.

Indiana

Top snowfall total: 17 inches, near La Porte

Some roads in northern Indiana remain closed due to blowing snow, drifts and abandoned cars that have left them impassable, the Associated Press reports. According to the state Department of Transportation, the vehicles are preventing plows from clearing the roads. INDOT spokesman Doug Moats says they do not believe anyone remains in the vehicles. 

State Road 2 near Hebron, U.S. 20 near South Bend and U.S. 231 in Lake County are among the roadways that remain closed. 

Some drivers were stranded for up to 15 hours on state roads overnight, according to WGN-TV. Among those stranded was Carrie White, who told WGN-TV she left work in Valparaiso at 3 p.m. Wednesday and was still stuck on Route 10 near Interstate 65 Thursday morning.

In addition to the big snowfall totals, winds gusted as high as 62 mph in Gary, according to National Weather Service reports.

Some high-profile vehicles were banned from the Indiana Toll Road starting at noon Wednesday, as announced on Twitter. The ban included "all triples, long-doubles, high-profile oversize permit loads & steel haulers."

"We're having sporadic crashes on 80/94," Indiana State Police Sgt. Ann Wojas told ABC 7 Chicago. "The biggest problem is on 94 in the Michigan City area, and then I-65 further south down by Remington, on the exit and entrance ramps."

Schools in many parts of the state were closed Thursday, and some of the interstates in northwestern Indiana were moving very slowly, the AP also said.

Michigan

Top snowfall total: 14 inches, Riverdale

A 6-year-old girl was killed Wednesday afternoon in a car crash that was partially blamed on snowy conditions created by Petros.

Officials told the AP Harlyn Radley died when her mother lost control of the vehicle and collided with another car in Calhoun County's Leroy Township, near Battle Creek. The mother was injured in the crash, as well as a driver of another vehicle involved in the three-car crash, the report added. Speed and heavy, wet snow were factors in the collision, the AP also said.

Early Thursday morning, a wind turbine collapsed, presumably in strong winds, in Huron County, Thumb Net reported. No other damage was reported in the area.

Many schools in the Lower Peninsula, including all schools in Detroit, were closed Thursday, the AP also said.

Ohio

Heavy snowfall and high winds forced the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission to place a travel ban lasting until 6 p.m. Thursday into effect, according to WTOL.com. The ban is for both the east and westbound lanes from milepost 0.0 to milepost 59.5. Vehicles such as triple-trailer commercial vehicles, box-type double trailers, mobile homes, campers and boat and horse trailers were prohibited from the turnpike until the ban is lifted. 

Missouri

Top snowfall total: 7 inches, Perryville

More than a half-foot of snow fell in Missouri Wednesday, according to storm totals from the NWS. The heavy weight of the snow, coupled with the strong winds, brought down many trees and power lines in the St. Louis area.

Downed power lines also led to a closure of Interstate 270 at Dougherty Ferry Road in western St. Louis Wednesday morning, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Both directions of the freeway were closed for several hours following the incident. 

Ameren Missouri reported nearly 10,000 customers were without power Wednesday night, mostly in and around St. Louis. That number was significantly lower than the total outages earlier in the day.

"It's a little scary, didn't expect it, didn't turn my heat up last night," Kathleen Ruder told KARE 11. "The house temperature is dropping pretty fast. I've got candles that I'm huddling around but I'm worried about the freezer and the dog and the cat and what's gonna happen.

Arkansas

Top snowfall total: 8.5 inches, Queen Wilhelmina State

More than 8 inches of snow fell in parts of Arkansas Tuesday and Wednesday, mostly in the Ozark and Ouachita mountains, but officials said most state roads were in good shape Wednesday morning. According to the AP, state officials said Arkansas 7 from Russellville to Jasper is partially snow-covered, and in the Ozarks, parts of U.S. 65 and U.S. 62 were slushy.