Blizzard Sweeps Across Midwest

A powerful storm packing heavy snow, sleet, and rain lumbered across the nation's midsection today, glazing roads and disrupting air travel but promising a white Christmas for some. The National Weather Service issued blizzard warnings for parts of Oklahoma, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Texas. It cautioned that travel would be extremely dangerous in those areas through the weekend; slippery roads have already been blamed for at least 12 deaths.

Winter storm warnings were in effect across the the Plains and the Midwest, with up to 2 feet of snow possible in some areas by tomorrow. One Central Kansas meteorologist reported wind speeds of 25mph, with gusts as high as 40mph. Meanwhile, nearly 100 flights out of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport were canceled, and Oklahoma City had to shut down a runway, wreaking havoc on its schedule. (More holiday travel stories.)