Snowstorm cripples Midwest (15 images)

A crossing guard stands in the middle of a early empty State Street on February 2, 2011 in Chicago. An overnight storm caused school closures, snarled traffic and dumped 17 inches of snow on much of the Chicago area with another 4 to 8 inches expected before afternoon. UPI/Brian Kersey

Trucks roll westbound past a jackknifed tractor trailer on Highway 70 in Foristell, Missouri on February 2, 2011. Highway 70 was closed due to heavy snow from Wentzville to Kansas City, Missouri on February 1. Missouri expirenced a dusting in some cities to over 20 inches of snow in others. Missouri was placed under a state of emergency by Governor Jay Nixon, which allowed the National Guard to be deployed throughout the state. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Pedestrians cope with blowing snow as they walk through downtown Chicago on February 2, 2011. An overnight storm caused school closures, snarled traffic and dumped 17 inches of snow on much of the Chicago area with another 4 to 8 inches expected before afternoon. UPI/Brian Kersey

Pedestrians wait to board a bus as a major snow storm hits on February 1, 2011 in Chicago. Up to two feet of snow is expected to fall in the Chicago area as a winter storm created blizzard conditions from the southern Great Plains to the upper midwest on Tuesday. UPI/Brian Kersey