100 million face US monster snowstorm

A MASSIVE winter storm dumped snow, ice and sleet across a huge swathe of the US yesterday, grounding thousands of flights, and bringing a wintry blast to 100 million people, or a third of the country.

High winds and freezing rain turned roads into deadly ice rinks and knocked down trees and power lines. Forecasts warned of dangerously cold temperatures, blinding snow and massive drifts. Tornados and major thunderstorms were also predicted along the southern end of the storm in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Blizzard, winter storm and freezing rain warnings were issued for more than half of the country’s 50 states, from North Dakota and Colorado down to New Mexico, then up through Texas, Kansas and Missouri to the Great Lakes region and across Pennsylvania to New England.

Snow had already piled up to as much as six to 12 inches in parts of Oklahoma, Texas, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Missouri, the National Weather Service reported.

For Chicago, the weather service said the “dangerous, multifaceted and life threatening winter storm” with high winds and heavy snowfall would make travel “impossible” at times.

The governor of Illinois declared a state of emergency and deployed 500 National Guard troops to help stranded motorists along the state’s highways.

A state of emergency was also declared in Oklahoma and Indiana.

More than 5,700 flights were cancelled by yesterday morning and airlines protectively cancelled another 2,700 flights for today. Airlines warned of significant travel interruptions, offering customers a chance to rebook flights at no fee.

Wind chills were forecast to drop to 30 to 50 below in Colorado, Wyoming, the Dakotas, Kansas, Idaho and even parts of Texas.

As much as 18 inches of snow was expected in the Chicago area.