The intense early-season "panhandle hook" winter storm cut a 1,000-mile-wide (1600 km) swath through the middle of the country from Kansas to Michigan.

[4][5] On November 7, 1940, the low pressure system that later developed into the storm was affecting the Pacific Northwest and produced the 40 mph (64 km/h) winds that destroyed the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.

Snowfalls of up to 27 inches (69 cm), winds of 50 to 80 miles per hour (80 to 130 km/h), 20-foot (6.1 m) snow drifts, and 50 °F (28 °C) temperature drops were common over parts of the states of Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

[12] A total of 146 deaths were blamed on the storm, with the following instances being noteworthy: Additionally, 1.5 million turkeys intended for Thanksgiving dinners across Minnesota perished from exposure to the cold conditions.

Weather Bureau was criticized that it failed to predict the huge blizzard and officials released a statement that they were aware that the storm was coming but wrong about its strength and scope.