At least 5 dead as winter storms prompt weather alerts for 60 million people across East, Midwest – USA TODAY, USA Today

****************************    Travel concerns will persist into Tuesday across parts of the region before the storm eventually exits off the New England coast.     Accuweather

McLEAN, Va. – At least five people have died from weather-related crashes and more than million were under weather alerts Monday as two closely aligned storms poundedmuch of the Midwest and Eastwith snow, ice and a wintry mix.

The National Weather Service posted winter weather advisories – possibly hazardous conditions expected – for more than 60 million people and winter storm warnings to 6 million more. A storm warning means, among other things, that at least 4 inches of snow or 1/4 inch of ice likely are on the way.

Missouri was a prime target for the misery: Snow Sunday from the first storm forced the State Highway Patrol to handle more than 1, 06 0 stranded motorist and vehicle crash calls. Three people were killed Sunday night when a driver lost control and overturned in St. Francois County in the eastern part of the state, authorities said.

In Callaway County, an – – year-old was killed when his vehicle went off the side of Missouri and overturned.

On Monday morning, commuters struggled through a wintry mix from the second storm. That forced St. Louis Public Schools to cancel classes for (**************************************************************************, **************************************************************************************** (0 students, and tens of thousands more kids around the state also gained an impromptu weather holiday.

“We’re expecting another round of heavy snow today across parts of east-central Missouri and southwest Illinois,” the National Weather Service in St. Louis. Louis warned. “This includes the St. Louis metro area from approximately 9 am through 6 pm”

More than 352 flights were delayed or canceled Sunday at St. Louis Lambert International Airport, and dozens more already were affected early Monday.

Parts of Kansas already were under a foot of snow. The state Department of Transportation said a – year-old man died Sunday when a pickup overturned on an icy Wichita road.

In Indianapolis, mist and freezing drizzle greeted early risers. The local school district was more hopeful than St. Louis, ordering a two-hour delay for its (***************************************************************************, ****************************************************************************************** 0 kids. ButNational Weather Service meteorologist Mike Ryan made it clear the storms were not over.

“By the time it ends late tonight we’re talking an additional 3 to 4 inches,” Ryan said. “That’s on top of the 3 to 4 We already had. There may be spots that have 6 to 7 inches.”

Portions of the Northeast that missed out on any snow from the first storm could get blanketed with several inches of snow from the second, stronger storm,

AccuWeather reported. Northern Pennsylvania and much of upstate New York into New England were viewed as primary targets.

“There is likely to be a narrow swath of 6- to 19 – inch snowfall totals in the Northeast as well , but confidence remains low on exactly where that stripe will occur, “AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Rob Miller said.