Much of the nation is dealing with a big blast of winter as a massive snowstorm barrels from the Rockies to the Midwest, with some parts of Colorado buried under more than a foot of snow. NBC's Mike Seidel reports.
By Miguel Llanos, NBC News
The first major wintry storm of the season hammered the Midwest on Thursday, causing a deadly 25-car wreck in blizzard conditions, dumping a foot of snow in some areas and creating problems for holiday travelers during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
At O'Hare airport in Chicago, the nation's second busiest, more than 150 flights were canceled Thursday morning and some regional flights were being delayed by around two hours. Up to 4 inches of snow is forecast at O'Hare, Weather Channel forecaster Brian Fortier told NBC News, including the possibility of a heavy snow shower there Thursday evening.
The storm system also cut power to 400,000 homes and businesses, and spawned a tornado that flipped vehicles in Mobile, Ala.
At least four deaths were tied to the system: In Iowa, one person died Thursday in a 25-car pileup on Interstate 35, NBC affiliate WHO-TV reported; in Wisconsin, slick road conditions led to two fatalities; and in Utah, a woman who tried to walk for help after her car became stuck in snow was found dead, officials said late Wednesday. Search and rescue crews on snowmobiles found her buried in the snow just a few miles from her car.
Blizzard or winter storm warnings were issued for 16 states on Thursday, Weather Channel meteorologist Mike Seidel told TODAY.
A foot of snow fell on Des Moines, Iowa, by early Thursday and residents across the state were urged to stay off the roads.
"Because of the wind, travel is pretty treacherous, especially into Iowa, as the storm moves east," National Weather Service meteorologist Scott Dergan said.
The snow cover will drag temperatures much lower in Iowa and Nebraska, he added. "We're talking single digits. We may even see some sub-zero temperatures in Nebraska. This cold weather will stick around for several days, maybe until the day after Christmas. So we're definitely going to have a white Christmas."
Blowing snow led to school closures in parts of Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri, plus the closure of all state government offices in Iowa. Storms in those four states left around 130,000 homes without power.
"Thundersnow" was reported in Iowa Wednesday night, as thunder and lightning accompanied the storm as it trekked across the state.
In Alabama, a tornado peeled the roofs off buildings and toppled cars and trucks in Mobile, but caused no serious injuries, Al.com reported. Arkansas also saw damage from high winds.
Dietra Tate / NBC 15
This vehicle at a car dealership was flipped over by a storm in Mobile, Ala., on Thursday, Dec. 20.
The storm system earlier delivered heavy snow and strong winds to parts of the West, where trucks tangled on icy roads on the Oregon and California state line.
In West Texas, winds from the same system kicked up a dust storm Wednesday that caused accidents along Interstate 27, resulting in one death and more than a dozen injuries, NBC affiliate KCBD reported.
As snow blew sideways in Nebraska on Wednesday night, the Nebraska State Patrol closed parts of Interstate 80, a major east-west highway.
In Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker declared a state of emergency on Wednesday. Schools were canceled in advance of heavy snowfall and the University of Wisconsin-Madison postponed Thursday’s final exams.
Full coverage of the storm at The Weather Channel
Brennan Linsley / AP
Snow-bound traffic ground to a halt in Superior, Colo., on Wednesday.
Before the storm, several cities in the Midwest had broken records for the number of consecutive days without measurable snow.
In Chicago, people were making a run on snow shovels and salt ahead of what would be the first snow to hit the city in 290 days (the record is 296). The Home Depot in Lincoln Park sold 50 shovels by 1 p.m., NBCChicago.com reported.
"It's Chicago, anything can happen," resident Louis Collazo said. "I'm ready for it. Bring it on."
The storm has package delivery companies nervously checking the weather forecast during this busy time of year. "We’re closely monitoring the storm," FedEx spokesman Scott Fiedler told NBC News. "We have a team of 15 meteorologists who track the weather around the world every day."
Related: Chicago braces for 'thundersnow'
Related: Bad in US? Try Russia, where some parts as low as 50 below
Related: Slideshow of wintry scenes around the world
After blowing through the Midwest, the storm will move on to the East Coast in the form of wind and rain, according to The Weather Channel.
NBC News' Isolde Raftery and A. Pawlowski, as well as The Associated Press and Reuters, contributed to this report.
NBC's Janet Shamlian reports on the busiest delivery day of the year for UPS, which is prepped to make 28 million deliveries by the end of the business day ahead of the threatening holiday storm.
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By Miguel Llanos, NBC News
The first major wintry storm of the season hammered the Midwest on Thursday, causing a deadly 25-car wreck in blizzard conditions, dumping a foot of snow in some areas and creating problems for holiday travelers during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
At O'Hare airport in Chicago, the nation's second busiest, more than 150 flights were canceled Thursday morning and some regional flights were being delayed by around two hours. Up to 4 inches of snow is forecast at O'Hare, Weather Channel forecaster Brian Fortier told NBC News, including the possibility of a heavy snow shower there Thursday evening.
The storm system also cut power to 400,000 homes and businesses, and spawned a tornado that flipped vehicles in Mobile, Ala.
At least four deaths were tied to the system: In Iowa, one person died Thursday in a 25-car pileup on Interstate 35, NBC affiliate WHO-TV reported; in Wisconsin, slick road conditions led to two fatalities; and in Utah, a woman who tried to walk for help after her car became stuck in snow was found dead, officials said late Wednesday. Search and rescue crews on snowmobiles found her buried in the snow just a few miles from her car.
Blizzard or winter storm warnings were issued for 16 states on Thursday, Weather Channel meteorologist Mike Seidel told TODAY.
A foot of snow fell on Des Moines, Iowa, by early Thursday and residents across the state were urged to stay off the roads.
"Because of the wind, travel is pretty treacherous, especially into Iowa, as the storm moves east," National Weather Service meteorologist Scott Dergan said.
The snow cover will drag temperatures much lower in Iowa and Nebraska, he added. "We're talking single digits. We may even see some sub-zero temperatures in Nebraska. This cold weather will stick around for several days, maybe until the day after Christmas. So we're definitely going to have a white Christmas."
Blowing snow led to school closures in parts of Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri, plus the closure of all state government offices in Iowa. Storms in those four states left around 130,000 homes without power.
"Thundersnow" was reported in Iowa Wednesday night, as thunder and lightning accompanied the storm as it trekked across the state.
In Alabama, a tornado peeled the roofs off buildings and toppled cars and trucks in Mobile, but caused no serious injuries, Al.com reported. Arkansas also saw damage from high winds.
This vehicle at a car dealership was flipped over by a storm in Mobile, Ala., on Thursday, Dec. 20.
The storm system earlier delivered heavy snow and strong winds to parts of the West, where trucks tangled on icy roads on the Oregon and California state line.
In West Texas, winds from the same system kicked up a dust storm Wednesday that caused accidents along Interstate 27, resulting in one death and more than a dozen injuries, NBC affiliate KCBD reported.
As snow blew sideways in Nebraska on Wednesday night, the Nebraska State Patrol closed parts of Interstate 80, a major east-west highway.
In Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker declared a state of emergency on Wednesday. Schools were canceled in advance of heavy snowfall and the University of Wisconsin-Madison postponed Thursday’s final exams.
Full coverage of the storm at The Weather Channel
Snow-bound traffic ground to a halt in Superior, Colo., on Wednesday.
Before the storm, several cities in the Midwest had broken records for the number of consecutive days without measurable snow.
In Chicago, people were making a run on snow shovels and salt ahead of what would be the first snow to hit the city in 290 days (the record is 296). The Home Depot in Lincoln Park sold 50 shovels by 1 p.m., NBCChicago.com reported.
"It's Chicago, anything can happen," resident Louis Collazo said. "I'm ready for it. Bring it on."
The storm has package delivery companies nervously checking the weather forecast during this busy time of year. "We’re closely monitoring the storm," FedEx spokesman Scott Fiedler told NBC News. "We have a team of 15 meteorologists who track the weather around the world every day."
Related: Chicago braces for 'thundersnow'
Related: Bad in US? Try Russia, where some parts as low as 50 below
Related: Slideshow of wintry scenes around the world
After blowing through the Midwest, the storm will move on to the East Coast in the form of wind and rain, according to The Weather Channel.
NBC News' Isolde Raftery and A. Pawlowski, as well as The Associated Press and Reuters, contributed to this report.
NBC's Janet Shamlian reports on the busiest delivery day of the year for UPS, which is prepped to make 28 million deliveries by the end of the business day ahead of the threatening holiday storm.
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