Massive snow storm hits US

AP

WHEEE: Children sledding in Minnesota, USA. A major snowstorm has hit the country.

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A major winter storm lumbering across America's midsection promised a white Christmas for some but brought headaches for travelers caught on slick, icy roads or dealing with cancelled and delayed flights.

The worst of the storm was heading northeast across the region Thursday, carrying heavy snow, sleet and rain to a large swath of the Plains and the Midwest.

Up to two feet (two-thirds of a metre) of snow was possible in some areas by Christmas Day.

Blizzard warnings were issued for Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin, and drivers were encouraged to pack emergency kits before setting out during what is normally one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

It cautioned that travel would be extremely dangerous in those areas through the weekend and that anyone taking to the road should pack a winter survival kit including flashlight and water in case of emergency.

Scott Blair, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Topeka, Kansas, said the wind was becoming a serious issue in central Kansas, with gusts reaching 40 mph (64kmh).

"We're going to see blowing snow," Blair said. "The big concern comes later when we see snowfall with the wind, causing reduced visibility."

Slippery roads were blamed for at least 14 deaths. Icy roads were blamed for accidents that killed at least seven people in Nebraska, four in Kansas, one each in Minnesota and Oklahoma, and one near Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The storm closed Oklahoma's biggest airport. Mark Kraneneberg, a spokesman for Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, said there were about 100 stranded passengers and some airport employees were stuck as well. More than 100 scheduled flights from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport were cancelled Thursday and dozens more were delayed, according to the airport's Web site. The Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City shut down one of its three runways and cancelled nearly 30 flights.

The Chicago Department of Aviation said there were no major delays early Thursday at O'Hare International Airport or Midway International Airport. On Wednesday, it reported more than 200 cancellations at O'Hare and about 60 at Midway.

Strong winds and ice caused power outages in Nebraska, Illinois and Iowa.