A winter storm has hit the Midwest with strong winds and snow, stranding some travelers heading home after the holiday.
The National Weather Service called traveling on Sunday "very dangerous." By Sunday afternoon, hundreds of flights had been canceled, according to FlightAware.
The agency expected the storm to develop through Sunday night and warned of blizzard conditions for the zones marked in red on this map.
Blizzard Warnings have been expanded into Illinois. Very heavy snow and strong winds will spread from the Plains across parts of Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois for the rest of today and tonight. Travel conditions will be very dangerous. Here is an update to our Key Messages. https://t.co/X2k1NL33gM
The NWS said Sunday afternoon that "very heavy snow and strong winds" were expected through Sunday night in parts of Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri. More than 8 inches of snowfall were predicted in the impacted areas.
Given the force of the winds and the heavy snowfall, power outages were possible, the agency said, and added that "very cold temperatures" — roughly 12 to 25 degrees lower than average — could follow the storm.
Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer issued a "disaster emergency declaration" for the state, which, like Nebraska, reported blizzard conditions Sunday morning.
People shared photos and videos of the winter storm Sunday, like this footage of a barely visible highway in Kansas.
Here’s video of the whiteout conditions during this blizzard, Hwy 40 towards Ellsworth, Kansas.
Or these pics of a patio transformed by snow. "#WinterStormBruce has crashed Thanksgiving Break," this person said.
#WinterStormBruce has crashed Thanksgiving Break. One pic is at 10:30am not long after he arrived, the second is at 1:40pm. https://t.co/aaJxcIsAYI
In Kansas City, Missouri, where winds of 50 and 60 mph were possible Sunday afternoon, the NWS discouraged people from traveling. "Best to stay inside today," the agency said.
"If you don't have to drive right now, don't," the Nebraska State Patrol said on Twitter Sunday morning.
While the storm has meant many that people begrudgingly accepted their trapped fate, not everyone seemed that bothered by it. This person seemed delighted to have more time with this "teddy bear of a dog."
The bad news: my flight home was canceled b/c of winter weather. The good news: more time with this teddy bear of a dog https://t.co/yaY1LUaFlp
"At least I'll be with this buttface for two more days," another person said.
Whelp... the blizzard has cancelled my flight home. But at least I'll be with this buttface for two more days. #silverlining https://t.co/jTG2ZX1LJM
"Perfect day in Kansas to stay off the roads and build a snowman instead," someone else said, sharing a picture of a little girl with a newly built snowman.
Perfect day in Kansas to stay off the roads and build a snowman instead #WinterStormBruce @weatherchannel