Massive Blizzard Moves North

The second major snowstorm in a week battered the nation's midsection today, dropping a half-foot or more of snow across Missouri and Kansas and cutting power to thousands. Gusting winds blew drifts more than 2 feet high and created treacherous driving conditions for those who dared the morning commute. About 40,000 people in northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas awoke to no power as heavy, wet snow weighed on power lines.

Kansas City, Mo., was in a state of emergency as blinding snowfall—made worse by sustained gusts estimated at 30mph or higher—made car and truck traffic too dangerous. Flights in and out of the city airport were canceled, and schools, government offices, and businesses across the region were closed. The storm battered Texas and Oklahoma yesterday, with wind gusts hitting as high as 75mph. It has so far been blamed for at least two deaths. (More winter storm stories.)