Deadly Snowstorm Blasts Midwest; Freezing Temperatures Follow

Photo Courtesy - ABC News(MINNEAPOLIS) -- Midwest residents are bracing for bitter cold temperatures Monday after a powerful snow storm has been blamed for at least half a dozen deaths, canceled flights and the collapse of the Metrodome's roof in Minneapolis Sunday.

From Minnesota to Chicago, the massive storm -- 1,500 miles across at its widest part -- dumped a foot-and-a-half of snow in some areas.  The snowy conditions have been blamed for at least six deaths over the weekend as motorists endured zero visibility driving conditions amid highway closings in five states.

The blast of Canadian cold air headed southward after the season's first snowfall swept through cities in the midwest and the northeast.  Now these cities are experiencing frigid cold temperatures.  Winter weather warnings have been issued for 30 states along the East Coast including a freeze warning in Florida, with temperatures in some areas expected to fall into the 20s.

Monday in Minneapolis, temperatures are expected to drop to 15 degrees with a low of only two degrees.  This, after the city was hit with the worst snowfall in almost 20 years, with more than two feet of snow in some areas.

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Notre Dame Student Dies Filming Practice; Tweets Just Before Death

Photo Courtesy - WLS-TV(SOUTH BEND, Ind.) -- A 20-year-old junior from the University of Notre Dame died on Wednesday after a tower he was filming atop of was knocked over by strong winds brought on by a Midwestern storm.

Declan Sullivan was perched on the tower recording a football practice, when wind gusts of up to 51 miles per hour swept through the field, toppling the tower.  The junior from Long Grove, Illinois was transported to a South Bend hospital, but died shortly thereafter.

Notre Dame had previously moved practice indoors on Tuesday due to similar weather conditions.

The school's head coach, Brian Kelly, released a written statement saying, "Declan was a diligent student worker in our video department and had a tremendous personality and great sense of humor.  He brightened the days for all that had the privilege to work with him, and the Notre Dame football family will dearly miss him."

Shortly before his death, Sullivan took to his Twitter account, posting several eerie tweets on the site.  The first read: "Gusts of wind up to 60 mph. Well today will be fun at work. I guess I've lived long enough."  The second, posted less than an hour before the accident, read: "This is terrifying."

Notre Dame is planning a mass for Sullivan and has made counseling available for those who may need it on campus.

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