Icy roads threaten Midwest travelers

SEATTLE, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Travelers throughout the U.S. Midwest faced dangerous driving conditions Friday as ice coated roads in Indiana, Michigan and Illinois, officials said.

Illinois state police said scores of accidents took place Friday morning in the Chicago area due to roads turned into sheets of ice even after a freezing rain advisory elapsed for the region, the Chicago Tribune said.

The Northwest Indiana Times said hazardous road conditions and traffic accidents forced multiple shutdowns of area roadways and interstates.

National Weather Service Meteorologist Rich Pollman offered regional travelers an icy road warning Friday, while detailing warm weather expected Saturday, The Detroit Free Press said.

Accuweather.com said a predicted warm front headed to the northern Plains from the Western United States would precede another heavy winter storm.

Accuweather's Winter Weather Center said the new storm's heaviest snowfall will focus on the Colorado Rockies and the western Dakotas, along with portions of the Northeast.

The Denver Post said the expected storm comes as portions of Colorado are already dealing with up to 4 feet of snow on the ground.