CHICAGO, (Reuters) – A colossal winter storm stretching from New Mexico to Maine hit the heartland of the United States with snow, high winds and freezing rain yesterday, and experts said the worst was still to come as the monster event moved northeast and temperatures plunged.
The storm, expected to affect as much as a third of the U.S. population, created blizzard conditions from the southern Plains to the upper Midwest, paralyzing grain and livestock movement and promising near-record snowfall.
Ice and sleet created dangerous travel conditions and forced the cancellation of thousands of flights.
President Barack Obama was briefed on the storm and preparations for emergency relief. The National Weather Service has issued storm watches, warnings and advisories in over 30 states, and blizzard warnings for eight: Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma and Wisconsin.
Moderate to heavy snowfalls of 8 to 15 inches (20 to 38 cm) will blanket the central and northern Midwest, with some places getting 20 inches (51 cm) more. In Chicago, local forecasters expect to see accumulations of up to two feet (61 cm).
