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'Thundersnow' storm in US Midwest blamed for two deaths 'Thundersnow' storm in US Midwest blamed for two deaths
(about 1 hour later)
A major winter storm in the US Midwest that is already blamed for two deaths could drop as much as 18in (45cm) of snow in the states of Kansas and Missouri, forecasters say. A major winter storm in the US Midwest that is already blamed for two deaths has blanketed several states in up to 17in (43cm) of snow.
A 90-mile (144km) stretch of Interstate 70 and Kansas City International Airport were closed as snow fell up to two inches per hour in some areas. More than half of Interstate 70 in Kansas and Kansas City International Airport were closed as snow fell up to two inches per hour in some areas.
Kansas state offices are closed and residents warned to stay home. Parts of Colorado, Kansas and Oklahoma saw at least a foot of snow, in some places accompanied by lightening.
"Instead of pouring rain, it's pouring snow," one weather official said."Instead of pouring rain, it's pouring snow," one weather official said.
National Weather Service meteorologist Scott Truett said the heavy "thundersnow", at times accompanied by lightning, resulted from an unstable air mass, much like a thunderstorm. National Weather Service meteorologist Scott Truett said the heavy "thundersnow" resulted from an unstable air mass, much like a thunderstorm.
Schools and legislatures in multiple states were closed on Thursday, and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon announced a state of emergency. In one 30-minute period, Topeka, Kansas saw three inches of snow.
"It came on fast,'' Jen Carlock told the Associated Press news agency as she shovelled snow from her car.
"We're going to test out traction control on the way home.''
Schools and legislatures closed
The huge system moved to the north and east on Thursday evening, leaving behind 17in in Hays, Kansas, 13in in Wichita and 10in in northern Oklahoma and parts of Nebraska.
The National Weather Service warned that "one last band" of snow would pass through the Kansas City, Missouri area on Thursday and could led to icing.
Kansas City airport officials said they were preparing to reopen on Friday morning. More than 320 flights at Lambert Airport in St Louis were also cancelled.
Schools and legislatures in multiple states were closed on Thursday, and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon announced a state of emergency. The University of Missouri cancelled classes for one of the only times in its 174-year history.
Kansas Governor Sam Brownback warned residents to stay off the roads.Kansas Governor Sam Brownback warned residents to stay off the roads.
The storm has already dropped up to eight inches of snow in areas of western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle, with larger accumulations in eastern Colorado.
Fatal accidentsFatal accidents
Arkansas saw a mix of precipitation, with some areas hit by a combination of hail, sleet and freezing rain. The storm has also reached as far as Arkansas, which saw a mix of precipitation, with some areas hit by a combination of hail, sleet and freezing rain.
Forecasters warned the northern part of that state could see up to half an inch of ice.
Bad road conditions from the storm contributed to two fatal vehicle accidents on Wednesday.Bad road conditions from the storm contributed to two fatal vehicle accidents on Wednesday.
An Oklahoma teenager died when his pickup truck skidded into oncoming traffic and a 19-year-old woman was killed in Nebraska when a sports utility vehicle lost control, crossed the median and struck her car.An Oklahoma teenager died when his pickup truck skidded into oncoming traffic and a 19-year-old woman was killed in Nebraska when a sports utility vehicle lost control, crossed the median and struck her car.
Alex Sosnowski, a meteorologist with forecaster Accuweather, said the storm would push east and south and a spin-off storm could create heavy snow in New England. By its end, the storm could affect a total of 24 states, he said. Alex Sosnowski, a meteorologist with forecaster Accuweather, said a spin-off storm could create heavy snow in New England. By its end, the storm could affect a total of 24 states, he said.
Many of the Midwest states hit by the storm have suffered from an extended drought, and some residents were thankful for the precipitation. Many of the Midwest states hit have suffered from an extended drought, and some residents were thankful for the precipitation.
Vance Ehmkes, a wheat farmer in western Kansas, told the Associated Press news agency that the 10-12 inches already fallen was "what we have been praying for". Vance Ehmkes, a wheat farmer in western Kansas, told the AP that the 10-12 inches already fallen was "what we have been praying for".