Flooding adds to Midwest mess from winds

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Upstate N.Y. also saw high winds; new storm moves into Northwest

DETROIT - Crews were working to restore electricity to 177,000 Michigan homes and businesses early Monday, a day after strong winds knocked down tree limbs and power lines, while residents in parts of the Northwest braced for another winter storm.Meanwhile, flood warnings were posted throughout the Midwest as temperatures rose after a week of heavy snowfall. Forecasters said flooding was possible in areas of Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and northwest Ohio.

In Michigan, roads in some Ottawa County subdivisions were under 2 to 3 feet of water, while the first floors of some homes were flooded, National Weather Service hydrologist Mark Walton said.

In southeastern Wisconsin, the National Weather Service predicted the Fox River would crest about a foot over flood stage Tuesday in the town of Wheatland. In northwest Missouri, the Grand River reached nearly 9 feet above flood stage in places over the weekend.

In the Northwest, new winter storm warnings were issued throughout the region, which has been hammered by storms in recent weeks. The National Weather Service said northeastern Washington and the Idaho panhandle could expect 3 to 7 inches of new snow in the valleys, and 6 to 10 inches in the mountains through Monday evening.

Spokane, Wash., already had received upward of 51 inches of snow this month — more than it sees in a typical winter — but it kept falling Monday, accompanied by winds that gusted to 35 mph.

Roads were so clogged in the city that Spokane police asked semi-truck drivers to use chains after several trucks became stuck in giant snowbanks. Black ice was also causing many accidents on Interstate 90, officials said.

In Michigan, winds gusting more than 60 mph knocked out power Sunday to 400,000 customers as temperatures dropped back into the 20s and 30s. Parts of the state also got about 4 inches of snow.

75 mph winds in upstate N.Y.

Strong winds also gusted across upstate New York on Sunday, reaching 75 mph and toppling some power poles and trees from Buffalo to central New York. More than 9,000 customers in five western and northern counties were without power early Monday, down from more than 60,000 the night before.

Amtrak canceled one train Sunday night and one Monday morning between Chicago and Grand Rapids, Mich., because of the weather, Amtrak spokeswoman Tracy Connell said.

t'was a bit breezy round here