Severe winter storms pummeled the U.S. over the past week, dumping heavy snow and wreaking havoc, including countless accounts of roof collapses under the weight of the snow.

The substantial accumulation and related load stresses particularly affected low-sloped roofs. Adding to the maladies, travel came to a standstill as high winds and temperature swings added to the chaos.

Multiple winter systems traversed the central and eastern United States starting Feb. 11, finally relenting on Tuesday. 

The National Weather Service reported that areas in the Central Plains and mid-Atlantic regions experienced snowfall ranging from 6 to 12 inches. Notably, eastern Kansas and Missouri saw accumulations of up to 10 inches, while parts of eastern Virginia, including Norfolk, received approximately 12 inches of snow. 

In the Midwest, a winter storm on February 12 brought 6 to 10 inches of snow to parts of eastern Iowa and northwest Illinois, causing hazardous travel conditions and numerous accidents. 

Schools were particularly hard hit, from Medford, Ore., where the gymnasium roof of North Medford High School collapsed under approximately 700,000 pounds of accumulated snow, according to local news reports, to Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., where a similar incident destroyed a middle school gym. 

In Los Angeles, severe rainfall led to flooding and mudslides, causing structural damage to several homes. A Los Angeles Fire Department vehicle was swept into the ocean near Malibu, though the firefighter escaped with minor injuries. 

An atmospheric river storm caused significant flooding and mudslides in the San Francisco Bay Area. The heavy rain led to landslides and urban flooding, with several homes experiencing structural damage due to the saturated ground. 

The severe weather also caused significant travel disruptions:

Between Feb. 15 and Feb. 18, thousands of flights were delayed or canceled across the Midwest and Northeast due to snowstorms and high winds. 

According to FlightAware, on Feb. 17 alone, there were 5,907 flight delays and 327 cancellations within, into, or out of the United States. Major airports, including Chicago, Detroit, Newark and LaGuardia, experienced significant delays. 

On the same day, a Delta Air Lines flight from Minneapolis crashed while landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport amid gusty winds and blowing snow. The plane flipped upside-down on the snow-covered ground, injuring eight people, one critically. 

California has been particularly affected by severe weather events that have caused structural damage in the northern and southern regions. A combination of heavy snowfall in the Sierra Nevada and intense rainfall in coastal areas has resulted in a higher incidence of roof collapses and structural failures. 

The NWS forecasts a period of relative calm for the moment, with no major storms expected in the immediate future. However, colder temperatures persist in many affected areas, which could delay melting and prolong the risk of structural stress due to existing snow loads.

Insurance companies are bracing for a surge in claims related to structural damages from roof collapses, flooding, and mudslides. Financial estimates are still being assessed, but early insurance industry chatter suggests the cost could run into tens of millions of dollars.