Winter snow storm and freezing rain hit Chicago

Airlines canceled thousands of flights, officials are urging people to stay off roads and schools are closed. A winter storm is bringing a mix of rain, freezing rain and snow to the central U.S. The central Illinois town of Lewiston has already gotten more than a foot of snow and.

Airlines canceled more than 2,000 flights in the U.S. scheduled for Wednesday,  including more than three-quarters taken off the board in St. Louis. Airports in Chicago, Kansas City and Detroit canceled more flights than usual and more than 130 flights were canceled at Denver International Airport. At Chicago's Midway International Airport 83 flights had been canceled and 117 flights were delayed. In an effort to stay ahead of the weather, Southwest Airlines announced Tuesday that it would suspend all of its flight operations Wednesday at St. Louis Lambert International Airport and Thursday at its Dallas Love Field hub.