A massive storm packing a dangerous mix of snow, sleet and ice pummeled a large swath of the country today, the start of two days of winter weather that closed schools, made driving treacherous and canceled thousands of airline flights.
Many schools and businesses closed as snow, freezing rain and blizzard conditions struck or threatened the eastern two-thirds of the nation.
Some areas of Kansas and Oklahoma picked up a foot of snow by midday, with several cities further north facing 2 feet by Wednesday.
“It’s one of the bigger storms this winter season,” National Weather Service meteorologist Bruce Sullivan told Chicago Press Release Services. “It’s going to disrupt travel quite a bit because of the massive snow that’s expected and the icing conditions.”
The monster storm brought snow to northern Texas and Oklahoma this morning, and blizzard warnings were issued for parts of Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. Several areas of northeastern Oklahoma had a blizzard with more than 12 inches of snow, the National Weather Service said.
It was snowing all morning in Lawton, Okla., in the southern part of the state, making business a little slower than usual at E Z Go Foods convenience store, said manager Deana Shotton. “It doesn’t snow down here very often,” she said. “A lot of people are stuck. There are quite a few people leaving their vehicles around on the side of the road.”
Most roads in Oklahoma were “slick and hazardous,” with blowing snow causing poor visibility,according to an Oklahoma Department of Public Safety report. “All roadways sleet and snow covered. All travel is discouraged,” said a report from one area.
Kansas had a foot of snow in the southeastern part of the state, and some spots have 2-foot snow drifts, said National Weather Service meteorologist Vanessa Pearce, in Wichita, Kan. With snow falling amid 43 mph wind gusts, “it’s blowing sideways,” she said
The storm was moving northeast, with up to 2 feet of snow expected in Chicago and snow likely to fall at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour in some places later today. The Windy City could have a record-breaking storm. Chicago’s snowiest storm was 1967′s 23 inches, followed by 21.6 inches that fell in 1999, the National Weather Service said.
Chicagoans have been stocking up on salt and shovels, said Doug Dsida, assistant sales manager at Clark & Barlow Hardware Co. “I don’t mind the snow at all,” said Dsida, who’s got a four-wheel-drive vehicle. “It’s actually good for business.
“Most people are realistic that we’re going to get some snow,” he said. “Everyone’s hoping we’re not going to get as much as anticipated.”
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