Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

Deadly Storm Batters Plains

At least five people die as massive crashes close several highways

By Jim O'Neill,  Newser User

Posted Dec 23, 2007 7:13 AM CST
Email

(Newser) – A deadly storm packing a one-two punch of heavy snow and high winds delivered a pounding to the Plains, making travel treacherous on a busy pre-holiday weekend. Blowing snow dropped visibility to near zero at times, causing at least five deaths in a string of multi-vehicle crashes that closed portions of major highways in several states, reports AP.


In Nebraska, Iowa and Oklahoma, heavy snow caused more problems for residents still recovering from an ice storm earlier this month that left hundreds of thousands without power. Wind gusts reaching 45 mph were reported in Oklahoma. Hundreds of flights were delayed an average of two hours at Chicago’s O’Hare airport, impacting air traffic across the country; 100 flights were canceled.

Vic Johnson makes his way through the snow on English Street, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2007 in Wichita, Kan. A strong snowstorm that cut visibility nearly to zero in some places as it rolled across the Plains on Saturday caused numerous vehicle pileups and forced authorities to close portions of several...
Vic Johnson makes his way through the snow on English Street, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2007 in Wichita, Kan. A strong snowstorm that cut visibility nearly to zero in some places as it rolled across the Plains...   (Associated Press)
Greg Weakland, 19, secures a tow hook to a stranded passenger's car to help it up an inclined street as snow blows down in Topeka, Kan., Saturday, Dec. 22, 2007. (AP Photo/Topeka Capital-Journal, Mike Burley)
Greg Weakland, 19, secures a tow hook to a stranded passenger's car to help it up an inclined street as snow blows down in Topeka, Kan., Saturday, Dec. 22, 2007. (AP Photo/Topeka Capital-Journal, Mike...   (Associated Press)
Manuel Hayden walks home from the grocery store as snow falls on Saturday, Dec. 22, 2007, in Wichita, Kan. Parts of Kansas have been blanketed with snow for the second weekend in a row. (AP Photo/The Wichita Eagle, G. Marc Benavidez)
Manuel Hayden walks home from the grocery store as snow falls on Saturday, Dec. 22, 2007, in Wichita, Kan. Parts of Kansas have been blanketed with snow for the second weekend in a row. (AP Photo/The...   (Associated Press)
A motorist stands outside her car as she waits for a long line of traffic to move on a snow packed highway near Rossville, Kan. Saturday, Dec. 22, 2007. A strong snowstorm that cut visibility nearly to zero in some places as it rolled across the Plains on Saturday caused...
A motorist stands outside her car as she waits for a long line of traffic to move on a snow packed highway near Rossville, Kan. Saturday, Dec. 22, 2007. A strong snowstorm that cut visibility nearly to...   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

Be careful driving as snow makes travel dicey
Quad City Times

Weather slowing travelers in East
USA Today

US

 
Great Plains • severe weather • storm • air travel • holiday travel • snow

More Newser Stories

More Trouble Looms for Holiday Travelers

US Faces Fresh Tornado Threat

Senate Bickers as Storm Bears Down on DC

Blizzards, Big Freeze Sock North

Storms Pummel Midwest, Scare Visitors
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne