Killer winter storm sweeps east

John Bacon and Bart Jansen | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Big storm threatens Thanksgiving travel A major storm forced more than 300 flights to be canceled in Dallas-Fort Worth on Sunday. It is also blamed for hundreds of traffic accidents. The storm is bringing snow, sleet and ice across the U.S. ahead of the Thanksgiving weekend. (Nov. 25)

Storm could disrupt Thanksgiving travel plans for millions

%27It feels like we%27re in the middle of winter%2C and it%27s not even Thanksgiving.%27

Storm aims at USA%27s midsection%2C then expected to slog through the Southeast

A deadly wave of Arctic cold continued its assault across much of the nation Sunday and threatened to bring havoc to Thanksgiving travel this week.

The storm, blamed for at least eight deaths as it blasted California and the Southwest with heavy rains, flooding, snow and sleet, was moving into the nation's midsection. Snowfall totals of 1 to 4 feet were recorded in the Four Corners area where Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico share a border.

More than 300 flights were canceled Sunday at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, representing about one-third of the scheduled departures, and spokeswoman Cynthia Vega said deicing equipment had been prepared as officials planned for the worst.

The storm collapsed roofs and caused hundreds of rollover accidents, prompting officials to cancel events and close roads. One accident injured three members of singer Willie Nelson's band when their bus hit a pillar on Interstate 30 about 75 miles northeast of Dallas.

Flagstaff, Ariz., saw at least 11 inches of snow. Metro Phoenix and other parts of central Arizona got more than two inches of rain.

The large system is likely to slog through the Southeast, bringing rain and thunderstorms to Georgia and states along the Gulf Coast just as Americans are making their final dashes home for Thanksgiving. Auto club AAA estimates that 43.4 million Americans will travel 50 or more miles from home from Wednesday through Dec. 1.

Winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories remained in effect for much of New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma, where "significant" sleet and ice accumulations were expected, the National Weather Service said."If the storm hugs the coast and develops to its full potential, it could be a nightmare, not only for travelers in the East, but also throughout the nation," said Evan Myers, chief operating officer of AccuWeather.com.

Bitter cold temperatures and stiff winds ahead of the storm dropped wind chills into the teens and lower in much of the Northeast on Sunday. In Boston, the wind chill dipped to 0 degrees.

The same storm is set to spread heavy, wind-whipped rain across the South and Interstate-95 corridor Tuesday through Wednesday, threatening travel delays along roads and at airports.

Rain will spread across the Carolinas on Tuesday, according to an AccuWeather.com forecast. The rain and low-hanging clouds could delay flights heading to and from New Orleans, Atlanta, Charlotte and other regional airports.

From late Tuesday through Wednesday, travel delays are expected from Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York and Boston. Significant delays appear likely for flights to and from major airport hubs in the Northeast, according to the weather service, which suggests checking your flight status before arriving at the airport.

Snow is projected to blanket the Appalachians, although not the lower coastal areas. "The potential exists for a foot of snow to fall from Bradford, Pa., to Burlington, Vt.," said Eric Wanenchak, an AccuWeather meteorologist.

Much of the rest of the country should have clear travel conditions. But because of cold air moving in Tuesday and Wednesday, there could be lake-effect snow in the Upper Midwest, with some possibly reaching Chicago and causing problems at O'Hare airport Wednesday.

The storm has caused hundreds of rollover accidents in the West, prompting officials to cancel events and close roads.

New Mexico got another blast of snow, sleet and ice after parts of the state were blanketed in snow and freezing rain blamed for a crash that killed a 4-year-old girl. Three storm-related deaths were reported in a crash in the Texas Panhandle involving nearly a dozen vehicles. The weather front also was blamed for three deaths in California and one in Arizona.

Contributing: William M. Welch, USA TODAY; The Burlington Free Press; Associated Press