Heavy storm batters the US

Photo: AP
Photo: AP
Jessica Vargas embraces her sister Carmen Vargas outside their grandmother's damaged home in Vale, North Carolina after powerful thunderstorms moved through the area. At least eleven people were hurt and eight homes damaged when a possible tornado touched down in Lincoln County in western North Carolina. Photo: AP
The remnants of a destroyed home lay across the road from it's foundation in Vale after powerful thunderstorms moved through the area. At least eleven people were hurt and eight homes damaged when a possible tornado touched down in Lincoln County in western North Carolina. Photo: AP
Broken umbrellas lie in a trash can outside the Lyric Opera after heavy storms wreaked havoc in Chicago. A storm drawing comparisons to a hurricane muscled across the Midwest snapping trees and power lines, delaying flights at O'Hare International Airport and soaking commuters who slogged to work under crumpled umbrellas. Photo: AP
A storm cloud that produced a brief drizzles moves east over Monroe. At least eleven people were hurt and eight homes damaged when a possible tornado touched down in Lincoln County in western North Carolina. Photo: AP
Workers try to repair power lines along Green Meadows Drive in Greenfield after a major storm blew through the central Indiana area. A storm drawing comparisons to a hurricane muscled across the Midwest snapping trees and power lines. Eleven states including Indiana are under a high wind warning. Photo: AP
A worker removes rubble strewn about the sidewalk from the upper portions of a 1920s-era building in St Louis. A storm drawing comparisons to a hurricane muscled across the Midwest snapping trees and power lines, delaying flights at O'Hare International Airport and soaking commuters who slogged to work under crumpled umbrellas. Photo: AP
Clouds pass over Manteno as a storm producing high winds passes through the area. A storm drawing comparisons to a hurricane muscled across the Midwest snapping trees and power lines, delaying flights at O'Hare International Airport and soaking commuters who slogged to work under crumpled umbrellas. Photo: AP
Commuters head to the train station as gusty winds continue throughout the region. A storm drawing comparisons to a hurricane muscled across the Midwest snapping trees and power lines, delaying flights at O'Hare International Airport and soaking commuters who slogged to work under crumpled umbrellas. Photo: AP
Members of the Vincennes Street Department remove debris from the street following a storm at passed through the area in Vincennes. A storm drawing comparisons to a hurricane muscled across the Midwest snapping trees and power lines. Eleven states including Indiana are under a high wind warning. Photo: AP
Two Red Cross workers walk away from a barn that was lifted off its foundation by a tornado in Mount Pleasant. Wisconsin is one of eleven states in the midwest under a high wind warning. At least eleven people were hurt and eight homes damaged when a possible tornado touched down in Lincoln County in western North Carolina. Photo: AP

Published Oct 27, 2010

A massive storm making its way through a big chunk of the United States brought a bit of everything: strong winds, rain, tornadoes and now even some snow. The storm-packed wind wreaked havoc across the Midwest and South, snapping trees and power lines, ripping off roofs and delaying flights. The storm continued its trek early, with snow falling in the northern Midwest states of North and South Dakota and Minnesota.

The unusual system mesmerised meteorologists because of its size and because it had barometric pressure that was similar to a Category 3 hurricane, but with much less destructive power.