Inflatable roof collapses at American football stadium as 20 INCHES of snow is dumped on Midwest in ONE DAY

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Deflated: Holes in the collapsed Metrodome roof can be seen in Minneapolis after a snow storm dumped 17 inches on the city


Four people killed as gigantic winter storm rips across the upper mid-West

More than 1,600 flights cancelled as 2ft snow falls in 24 hours and temperatures plummet to -18C

Blizzard warnings across Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan

Major highways closed down due to hundreds of accidents

The giant inflatable roof above the Minneapolis Metrodome collapsed yesterday under the weight of a massive snowstorm that swept across the upper Midwest.

The 580,000lbs roof, which is made of Teflon-coated fibreglass, fell in just hours before Minnesota Vikings were due to play the New York Giants.

No one was hurt but the dramatic incident - captured on video - forced the National Football League to shift the game to Monday night at Detroit's Ford Field.


Snow covers the Minnesota Vikings football field after 17 inches of snowfall cause a tear in the teflon roof
MSFC director of facilities and engineering Steve Maki said: 'This just came very fast. It was heavily loaded, and the wind was just unbelievable.'


Bill Lester, the MSFC's executive director, added: 'There were no injuries, which we're thankful for.'

Video of the incident appeared to show something escaping from the collapse on the far side of the field.

Four people were killed and more than 1,600 flights were cancelled as the powerful winter storm roared across the upper Midwest.

The storm dumped nearly 2 feet of snow in parts of Minnesota. A blizzard warning was in effect on Sunday for parts of eastern Iowa, southeastern Wisconsin, northwestern Illinois and northern Michigan, according to the National Weather Service.


The game between the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings, which was first scheduled for Sunday afternoon in Minnesota will instead be played on Monday night in Detroit


The Minneapolis city skyline is a backdrop to the Metrodome stadium with the roof fully inflated


Surrounding areas, including Chicago, were under winter storm warnings. Much of Iowa was under a wind-chill advisory.

The winter weather, with blowing snow that severely limited visibility, wreaked havoc on air and road travel.

In the Chicago area, wind gusts of up to 50 mph, temperatures fell to -18C with wind chill along with up to 8 inches of snow.


Aron MacEachern from Hamilton, Ontario, takes a picture of the collapsed Teflon roof of the Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome


More than 1,600 flights were canceled at O'Hare International Airport and more than 250 were canceled at Midway International Airport, Chicago Department of Aviation spokeswoman Karen Pride said. Both airports expected more cancellations and reported significant delays.

Major highways in several states were closed due to poor driving conditions and accidents.

Illinois State Police closed a section of Interstate 80 in the north central part of the state on Sunday after a multiple-car pileup west of Peru. An injury report wasn't immediately available.


Deluged: Map of the United States taken as 4pm EST yesterday shows where the freak snows have fallen. Snows are represented by blue, ice by purple and rain in green


Seven vehicles crashed on Interstate 94 west of Milwaukee, prompting authorities to close the westbound lanes.

A vehicle lost control on an ice-covered road and slammed into a tree in southeastern Wisconsin, killing 21-year-old Alejandria Abaunza of Chicago and injuring two other people inside.

In western Wisconsin, a 79-year-old man snow-blowing the end of his driveway was killed when a plow truck backed into him. The St. Croix County Sheriff's Department said Clifford Larson of Woodville died at the scene.


Ice covers the railings near the lighthouse tower behind the Summerfest grounds in Milwaukee


A man shovels out a car next to a van that caught fire after 17 inches of snow fell in Minneapolis


In Minnesota, Interstate 90 from Albert Lea to the border with South Dakota reopened Sunday afternoon after being closed on Saturday because blowing snow reduced visibility.

Minnesota state highways also reopened, although transportation officials warned that many were still snow-compacted, icy and, in numerous cases, down to a single lane.

In Iowa, Interstate 29 from the state line to Sioux Falls, South Dakota remained closed, although other portions of it and Interstate 80 reopened.


A man digs out his car after a snow plow pushes snow up against it after 17 inches of snow fell in Minneapolis


Chicago Bears placekicker Robbie Gould (9) practices field goals as workers at Soldier Field wait to clear snow from the field before an NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Chicago


Although roads were open in Wisconsin, state officials urged drivers to stay home because blowing snow severely limited visibility.

The storm had already dropped up to 18 inches of snow in parts of northern and central Wisconsin, he said, and light snow continued Sunday.

Six people were injured Saturday when a van carrying 13 people hit a guardrail and overturned near Stanwood, Michigan, in the north-central Lower Peninsula.

Authorities said that weather played a role in the death of Douglas Munneke, 55, of St. Cloud, Minnesota.

He died of a heart attack after collapsing while he was snow-blowing his driveway Saturday.

In Indianapolis, police said a man fatally stabbed his wife, then died four blocks from his home Sunday morning when his vehicle hit a tree after he lost control on a slippery road. Police did not immediately release the names of the couple.


source: dailymail