Blizzard-like conditions slap northern Plains

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- The Plains states dug out on Tuesday from as much as 18 inches of snow dumped by a huge storm that closed highways and schools, and grounded airline flights.

Seasoned truckers pulled over to wait for conditions to improve.

"You can't see marker lines, you don't know where the road is. It's not a good idea to be out there," said Perry Blaoun, who parked his rig overnight at Sioux Falls, S.D.

At least three deaths were blamed on the storm as it swirled from the Southwest and Rockies across the Plains. By Tuesday, the bulk of the storm had plowed eastward, spreading rain across the Great Lakes and along the East Coast.

In its wake, 18 inches of new snow sat on the ground at Mitchell and Huron, S.D., and a foot had fallen at Loup City, Neb. Mitchell declared a snow emergency, banning all non-emergency vehicles from the streets.

During the weekend, the storm piled 14 inches of snow on the Oklahoma Panhandle.