Winter storm hits northern U.S. states

A winter storm brought a white Christmas to the northern areas in the United States on Sunday, with fierce blizzard conditions that threatened holiday travel plans, according to the U.S. National Weather Service.

The agency reminded drivers of keeping alternate routes in mind and preparing for possible delays.

Blizzard warnings were in effect in eastern Montana and swaths of North and South Dakota on Sunday afternoon, with winter storm warnings issued in Minnesota, Wyoming and parts of northern Nebraska.

To the west, snow was also forecast for much of Idaho, Montana, Utah and northeast Colorado.

"I don't think anybody's going to be going anywhere, not if they're smart," said John Rowe, a senior meteorologist at the Weather Channel.

"Tomorrow in the Dakotas and in Minnesota the wind is going to be so strong that whatever snow is on the ground is going to be blowing all over the place," Rowe said.

In Arizona, more than 80 kilometers of the I-40 highway were brought to a complete standstill overnight due to multiple crashes and heavy snow on the roads.

The storm itself was moving up into Canada, Rowe was quoted by a NBC report as saying, but rain associated with the weather front was moving towards northeastern America.

Freezing rain was forecast to hit parts of New York and neighboring Pennsylvania late Sunday and into Monday morning, according to Rowe, who warned commuters could expect a wintry mix in parts of northeastern states. Endi