Mammoth snow storm pounds central US

US: A massive winter storm among the worst the United States has seen in decades dumped snow, ice and sleet across a huge swath of the country Tuesday, knocking out power and grounding thousands of flights. The storm one of the largest winter storms since the 1950s, according to NASA stretched for more than 3,000 kilometers (2,000 miles) from Texas to the northeastern state of Maine, and forecasters warned it could be several days before it abated.

Blizzard, winter storm and freezing rain warnings were issued for more than half of the 50 US states, and tornadoes and major thunderstorms were also predicted along the southern end of the storm in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Officials warned the public to stay at home rather than try to brave the crippling and potentially record-breaking storm.

“Travel will be dangerous and life-threatening due to dramatically reduced visibilities and bitter cold wind chills,” the National Weather Service office in Iowa warned. “If you become stranded expect to spend the entire night in your vehicle as rescuers likely will not be able to reach you.”

High winds and freezing rain turned roads into deadly ice rinks and knocked down trees and power lines. By late Tuesday more than 60,000 customers had lost power in Indiana alone, in addition to 22,000 in Ohio, local media said.

Forecasts warned of dangerously cold temperatures, blinding snow and massive drifts as high as six to eight feet (1.8 to 2.4 meters.)

“Lurking behind this impressive winter storm is a powerful shot of Arctic air as a frigid surface high drops down from central Canada,” the weather service warned.

Wind chills were forecast to drop to 30 to 50 below in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, the Dakotas, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota and even parts of Texas. CHICAGO, Wednesday, AFP