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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 has blanketed several states in up to 17in (43cm) of snow. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Parts of Colorado, Kansas and Oklahoma saw at least a foot of snow, in some places accompanied by lightning. | Parts of Colorado, Kansas and Oklahoma saw at least a foot of snow, in some places accompanied by lightning. |
| "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" 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. |
| In one 30-minute period, Topeka, Kansas saw three inches of snow. | 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. | "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.'' | "We're going to test out traction control on the way home.'' |
| Schools and legislatures closed | 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 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. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Fatal accidents | Fatal accidents |
| The storm has reached as far as Arkansas, where some areas were hit by a combination of hail, sleet and freezing rain. | |
| 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 sport utility vehicle lost control, crossed the road 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 sport utility vehicle lost control, crossed the road median, and struck her car. |
| Alex Sosnowski, a meteorologist with forecaster Accuweather, said a spin-off storm could dump heavy snow on the north-eastern New England states. 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 dump heavy snow on the north-eastern New England states. By its end, the storm could affect a total of 24 states, he said. |
| Many of the Midwest states hit 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 that the 10-12 inches already fallen was "what we have been praying for". | Vance Ehmkes, a wheat farmer in western Kansas, told the Associated Press that the 10-12 inches already fallen was "what we have been praying for". |