REPORT: New Storm hits the US

         
Two weeks after the heavy storm hit New England in the United States, another heavy storm blanketed large swathes of the central United States on Thursday.           

The storm system swirled to the north and east on Thursday night, its snow, sleet and freezing rain prompting winter storm warnings from Kansas to Illinois.               

Forecasters say the storm will continue its crawl overnight, hitting the upper Midwest by Friday morning.              
The system has already left impressive snow accumulations, especially in Kansas, where a foot and half (43 centimetres) of snow fell in Hays.               

Snow ploughs were out in force in Wichita to try to keep traffic moving on snow-covered roads.                 
Numerous accidents and two deaths were being blamed on the icy, slushy roadways.               

Most schools in Kansas and Missouri, and many in neighboring states, were closed and legislatures shut down in Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Nebraska and Iowa.           

All flights at Kansas City International Airport were cancelled for Thursday night, and officials said they'd prepare to reopen Friday morning.         

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon declared a state of emergency on Thursday morning.         

Traffic throughout the state was snarled by hundreds of accidents and vehicles in ditches.       

The University of Missouri cancelled classes for one of the few times in its 174-year history.  
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AP