Storms encase Iowa and eastern Nebraska in ice and generate rare tornado warning in San Francisco

OMAHA, Neb.– A major ice storm created treacherous driving conditions in Iowa and eastern Nebraska this weekend and led to temporary closures of Interstate 80 after scores of cars and trucks slid off the road.

Many events in the region were canceled when the storm hit Friday evening and businesses announced plans to open late Saturday as officials urged people to stay home if possible. However, temperatures are expected to rise high enough Saturday afternoon to melt the ice in most places.

“Luckily some warmer air is moving in behind this to make it temporary,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Dave Cousins, who works at the Davenport, Iowa, office.

Elsewhere, a storm issued a rare tornado warning in San Francisco and caused some damage. And in the Northeast, people are digging after heavy snow fell in New York state.

Some trees were down and roofs were damaged in the city, which hasn’t seen a tornado since 2005, according to the Weather Service. Damage will be assessed on Saturday to determine if a tornado occurred.

The fast-moving storm prompted warnings for residents to take shelter, but few people have basements in the area. Meteorologist Dalton Behringer said: “The most important thing we tell people in the city is to put as many walls between you and the outside world as possible.”

More than 30 inches of snow was reported near Orchard Park, New York, but people who live there are used to heavy snowfall from lake effects this time of year.

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Associated Press reporter Julie Walker contributed to this story from New York.