Winter storm blankets Midwest

ST. LOUIS – The season’s first big wintry storm blustered across the Midwest on Friday and closed in on the Northeast, leaving hundreds of thousands without electricity, stranding airline passengers and burying streets in heavy snow.

The storm was blamed for at least eight deaths as it cut a swath from Texas to the Northeast, bringing snow, freezing rain and high winds, as well as closing schools and businesses.

The East Coast saw rain, thundershowers and high winds late Friday, with damaging gusts up to 55 mph expected as the cold front passed.

Ameren Corp. reported about 520,000 customers without power in Illinois and Missouri on Friday after ice and snow blanketed much of the state, snapping power lines and tree limbs. Ron Zdellar, Ameren vice president, said it would be days before all customers had electricity again.

“We know a lot of people are going to have to leave their homes, probably over the next few days,” he said.

Part of a roof collapsed at a Peoria nursing home Friday evening, causing minor injuries, police said. The snow may have been a factor.

Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt declared a state of emergency and deployed National Guard members to help people in need. More than 200 were to be in the St. Louis area by this morning, and 500 others were available if needed around the state. Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius declared a disaster emergency for 27 counties.

Shelters and warm-up centers opened in the St. Louis area, with temperatures expected to drop into the teens.

In Chicago, where snow covered street signs and commuters walked gingerly along slushy streets, forecasters warned residents to be careful digging out of what they called “heart attack snow” – difficult to shovel because it is so heavy.

A man died Friday afternoon after shoveling snow in Racine, Wis., which got up to got 14.5 inches, officials said.

Chicago received 6.2 inches, and many areas of Illinois, Wisconsin and Missouri got more than a foot.

The Midwest’s nasty weather caused problems for travelers nationwide. United Airlines canceled 821 flights as of late afternoon Friday, according to company spokeswoman Robin Urbanski.

As the storm moved east, strong showers and gusty winds caused even more people to lose power. In Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, more than 100,000 customers lost power at some point during the day, though many had power restored.

In New York, severe thunderstorms and high winds toppled trees and knocked out power to at least 65,500 customers outside the New York City area. One person died after a tree fell onto a house in Ellenville.