Winter Storms Hit the US Disrupting Travel and Causing Havoc

According to the warning, significant freezing rain is likely in the southeast portion of Nebraska and the southwest portion of Iowa. A strong and fast-moving disturbance will pick up moist Gulf air and drop the freezing rain after mixing with cold air in the area, according to the warning.

The storm is expected to drop snow north of Interstate 80 and a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain to the south of the road, the weather service said.

As much as a foot of snow could fall near the Illinois-Wisconsin border. Between six and nine inches of snow are expected to fall on the North Side and four to six inches on the South Side. Three to five inches are expected in the south suburbs, the weather service said.

As one storm exits the Northeast today, three more will speed across the United States over the next week. The storms will all follow a similar path along the boundary between the very cold air to the north of the jet stream and warm air that is in place on the south side of the boundary.

Winter storm warnings and watches now stretch from Chicago to Portland, Maine, including the northern suburbs of New York City. The storm is also expected to blanket New England, where thousands have been without power for a week.

Forecasters are warning temperatures in the 40s will dip into the 20s overnight and that a low-pressure area "now taking shape over the southwestern states" will move into the Ohio Valley en route to Long Island, where it will pass along the South Shore on Friday. That storm figures to bring snow "before noon," forecasters say. That snow will be followed by a dangerous mixture of rain, snow and sleet.

Metro it is canceling some bus routes for the rest of the day. More information on route cancellations and reductions will be provided by mid afternoon on Metro Online. Metro said crews put chains on all its 1,300 buses early Thursday, but warned commuters that the bus system is "severely impacted by the storm," with long waits and routes altered by the snowfall. Sounder commuter rail is operating as scheduled today.

Community Transit says buses on some routes may only come once an hour. Community Transit's website is down, and staff are working to restore service.