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.