Winter Storm Dumps Snow, Freezing Rain on Eastern Half of U.S.

One of the first major snowstorms of the season swept across the eastern half of the U.S. on Thursday, spreading ice and sleet and leaving at least seven people dead in weather-related traffic accidents. Winter weather watches, warnings, and advisories were in effect for about 88 million people from Missouri to Maine as heavy snow and freezing rain snarled traffic and prompted schools to close. The storm paralyzed roads in New York City and dumped 6 inches of snow on Central Park, making this the snowiest November on record for the city since 1938, according to NBC New York. The snow also caused chaos for commuters, with drivers on New York’s George Washington Bridge abandoning cars and the Port Authority Bus Terminal so overcrowded that authorities had to block people from entering. Icy conditions caused by the storm have also been blamed for at least seven deaths in Ohio, Arkansas, Indiana, and Mississippi. At least two people were killed and 44 injured Wednesday when a tour bus heading to a casino lost control on an icy overpass and flipped over in Mississippi. Three people were also killed in separate crashes on icy roads in Arkansas, and authorities in Indiana and Ohio have reported two additional weather-related deaths.