Major blizzard in US Mid-west threatens holiday travel

A truck is abandoned on US Highway 63 along the northbound lane in Waterloo, Iowa, Dec 20, 2012. The first major winter storm of the year took aim at the U.S. Midwest on Thursday, triggering high wind and blizzard warnings across a widespread area, and a threat of tornadoes in Gulf Coast states to the south. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

The Aldo Leopold "Shack" during a winter storm Dec 20, 2012 in Baraboo, Wisconsin. The State Patrol was warning motorists to stay home as a paralyzing winter storm bore down on Wisconsin In the first significant snowstorm to hit southern Wisconsin in two winters. -- PHOTO: AFP

Snow sticks to the trees during the winter storm Dec 20, 2012 in Baraboo, Wisconsin. The State Patrol was warning motorists to stay home as a paralyzing winter storm bore down on Wisconsin In the first significant snowstorm to hit southern Wisconsin in two winters. -- PHOTO: AFP

Snow blows and creates drifts around cars on Seerley Boulevard Cedar Falls, Iowa, Dec 20, 2012. The first major winter storm of the year took aim at the U.S. Midwest on Thursday, triggering high wind and blizzard warnings across a widespread area, and a threat of tornadoes in Gulf Coast states to the south. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Northern Iowa junior Kirk Bremner uses a snowblower to clear his sidewalk on campus in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Dec 20, 2012. The first major winter storm of the year took aim at the U.S. Midwest on Thursday, triggering high wind and blizzard warnings across a widespread area, and a threat of tornadoes in Gulf Coast states to the south. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Snow blows over cars on Seerley Boulevard Cedar Falls, Iowa, Dec 20, 2012. The first major winter storm of the year took aim at the U.S. Midwest on Thursday, triggering high wind and blizzard warnings across a widespread area, and a threat of tornadoes in Gulf Coast states to the south. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Snow is caked on a stop sign on Fletcher Avenue in Waterloo, Iowa, Dec 20, 2012. The first major winter storm of the year took aim at the U.S. Midwest on Thursday, triggering high wind and blizzard warnings across a widespread area, and a threat of tornadoes in Gulf Coast states to the south. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Kimberlee Taylor works to get her car free after the snow the plow trapped her car in with snow in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Dec 20, 2012. The first major winter storm of the year took aim at the U.S. Midwest on Thursday, triggering high wind and blizzard warnings across a widespread area, and a threat of tornadoes in Gulf Coast states to the south. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Michael Tweedt (centre) directs Hailey Pettit (in car) as Kimberlee Taylor helps push the car free from the snow Cedar Falls, Iowa, Dec 20, 2012. The first major winter storm of the year took aim at the U.S. Midwest on Thursday, triggering high wind and blizzard warnings across a widespread area, and a threat of tornadoes in Gulf Coast states to the south. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Lisa Schultz shovels her sidewalk during a winter storm Dec 20, 2012 in Baraboo, Wisconsin. The State Patrol had warned motorists to stay home as a paralyzing winter storm bore down on Wisconsin, the first significant snowstorm to hit southern Wisconsin in two winters. -- PHOTO: AFP

Abby Moon and Carley Moon are pulled on a mattress by their grandfather Clyde Moon's four wheeler during a winter storm in Fairfield, WI Dec 20, 2012. The State Patrol was warning motorists to stay home as a paralyzing winter storm bore down on Wisconsin In the first significant snowstorm to hit southern Wisconsin in two winters. -- PHOTO: AFP

Shoveling out cars was just one of the battles of the storm on Dec 20, 2012 in in Madison, Wisconsin. The State Patrol was warning motorists to stay home as a paralyzing winter storm bore down on Wisconsin In the first significant snowstorm to hit southern Wisconsin in two winters. -- PHOTO: AFP