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Thousands of flights cancelled as blizzard hits Midwest, heads Northeast

Freezing rains and heavy snow are anticipated to strike New England, Pennsylvania and New York state as the storm moves Northeast.

By Fred Lambert

CHICAGO, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- A snow storm moving east from the Great Plains has put millions under blizzard warning and thousands of flights into cancellation as the system makes its way across the Midwest and into the Northeast on Monday.

Winter storm warnings have been issued to 65 million people across 18 states as far west as the Dakotas and Nebraska, stretching eastward to Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and portions of New England.

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At least 2,000 flights have been cancelled, several in and out of Chicago, which has put its 9 million residents under blizzard warning early Sunday afternoon through midnight. The city could get as much as 15 inches of snow, according to CNN meteorologist Michael Guy.

Speaking at a news conference Sunday, Mayor Rahm Emanuel promised the streets would remain plowed and passable. At least nine inches of snow were reported in the city as of Sunday afternoon, with 40 mph wind gusts, power outages and reduced visibility expected.

The system, dubbed Winter Storm Linus by The Weather Channel, will continue moving east, and on Sunday night into Monday morning is expected to bring moderate to heavy snows, freezing rain and sleet to portions of Pennsylvania, New York state and New England.

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