Wild Winter Weather Woes

FORT WAYNE, IN WANE - CYNTHIA BOWERS, CBS NEWS, CHICAGO.

A massive blizzard in the Midwest brought dangerous winds and snow while wet weather is responsible for big problems in other parts of the country.

It's not the falling flakes, but the blowing snow that was the problem. Visibility was so bad in parts of the Midwest, on-coming cars could sneak-up right on you.

One motorist said: "It's crazy. I know it's Iowa, but it's just bizarre."

Not wanting to take any chance, hundreds of big rigs pulled off the road in places like Fargo, North Dakota.

Many drivers who did risk it, soon found out it wasn't worth it.

Several accidents and pile-up, including a deadly one involving 40 cars, shut down a nearly 80 mile stretch of an Iowa Interstate.

In the Northeast, the powerful precipitation took the form of rain, but the winds were no less fierce, bringing down trees, power lines and poles.

In the flood ravaged Southeast, raging rivers are starting to recede, but not before taking parts of some roadways with them.

And in California, they're still dealing with the aftermath of last week's monster storm. Tons of debris are washing ashore.

Near San Francisco, crews fighting erosion from the storm are drilling huge 50 foot nails into a hillside, making the story of this winter a true cliffhanger.