Huge Winter Storm Socks Much of Nation With Snow and Ice

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 AOL News. "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.

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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."

The NFL was holding its Super Bowl media day at Cowboys Stadium despite an ice storm that hit Dallas. "The show goes on," league spokesman Greg Aiello said on Twitter. "Media day is on schedule. Drive carefully. The stadium roof is closed."

The storm closed the airport for 2 1/2 hours this morning because of icy runways, said David Magana, spokesman for Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. By late morning, the airport was running at about half-capacity, with two runways open.

Most fans flying into Dallas for Sunday's game are expected to start arriving on Thursday. "If there's a silver lining, it's that it happened on Tuesday instead of later in the week," Magana said of the storm.

Ice from freezing rain, which can down power lines or tree limbs that snap power lines, was threatening to cause problems in Arkansas, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts, according to the Weather Channel.

At the National Weather Service office in Indianapolis, four-tenths of an inch of ice had piled up today, and another inch is possible by tonight, said meteorologist Adam Baker. "That's quite a bit," he said, adding that with high winds arriving later, "it's a very bad scenario."

Northern Indiana was expecting up to 20 inches of snow, Indianapolis and the central part of the state were getting pelted with ice, and sleet was likely in the southern tier. "Hoosiers, brace for the worst," Baker warned.

This morning also brought snow to parts of the snow-fatigued Northeast, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Two to five inches of snow were expected in the New York City area along with sleet and freezing rain.

The wintry mix was expected to let up in the afternoon before the big storm arrives overnight, with up to a third of an inch of ice possible.

"It's going to make it really, really slick," said National Weather Service meteorologist Joe Pollina.

As the storm approached, many airline flights were canceled. In Chicago, more than 600 flights were canceled at O'Hare International Airport and 50 at Midway International Airport, with more cancellations likely, according to a recording by the Chicago Department of Aviation.

In the New York City area, 150 flights were canceled at John F. Kennedy Airport, 112 at LaGuardia and 631 at Newark, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Some 500 flights were canceled in Dallas.

The Weather Channel snowfall forecast called for up to 18 inches for Kansas City and Springfield, Mo., and up to 8 inches for Des Moines, Iowa. Northern Indiana, including Gary, could see 20 inches, and Boston could get 18 inches. Maine and Vermont could see 12 to 18 inches, and snowy Syracuse, N.Y., was in the 18- to 24-inch range.

The storm should be mostly over by Wednesday night, with a light snow still possible in the Northeast on Thursday. Before it's over, though, weather watchers will gather Wednesday to see Punxsutawney Phil's annual prediction on whether there will be six more weeks of winter.

"It will be cloudy tomorrow," said Sullivan, "so I'd have to say it's questionable as to whether he'd see his shadow or not."

Everyone tired of winter and its snowy mess is hoping that spring is around the corner.