Storm Brings Snow,Ice to Midwest,N.E.  01/18 09:27

   A winter storm that has already caused trouble at airports in Chicago and 
Kansas City was expected to bring blizzard conditions to the Plains and Midwest 
on Saturday and could dump up to a foot of snow in parts of the Northeast on 
Sunday. 

   CHICAGO (AP) -- A winter storm that has already caused trouble at airports 
in Chicago and Kansas City was expected to bring blizzard conditions to the 
Plains and Midwest on Saturday and could dump up to a foot of snow in parts of 
the Northeast on Sunday. 

   National Weather Service forecasters issued winter weather advisories 
affecting much of the Midwest and into the Northeast, including heavy snow that 
could make travel difficult in some areas. 

   Forecasters also warned of blizzard conditions expected Saturday afternoon 
in parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa, including wind 
gusts topping 50 mph (80 kph). 

   For southern New England, it would be the first significant snowfall of the 
year, with up to half a foot (15 centimeters) expected in many areas of 
Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Parts of New York state could get 
up to a foot (30 centimeters) of snow.

   On Friday night, the Federal Aviation Administration halted all flights in 
and out of Chicago's O'Hare Airport for several hours, and a plane slid off an 
icy taxiway at Kansas City International Airport. The Chicago Department of 
Aviation reported about 200 cancellations at O'Hare on Saturday morning out of 
nearly 2,000 total flights, and the FAA said some flights were being delayed by 
weather conditions. 

   In South Dakota and Minnesota, dozens of schools canceled classes Friday. In 
Kansas, state offices in the Topeka area shut down.


(KR)