SONIA RUSELER, CNN ANCHOR: A major winter storm is sweeping across the Midwest. It's expected to dump up to a foot of snow in some areas, changing over to rain as it moves East. Road crews are out in force in parts of Iowa where 12 inches or more is expected overnight. In some areas, the snow is mixed with freezing rain and sleet. At least six inches are on the ground in Chicago already where our bureau chief Jeff Flock joins us now with the latest -- Jeff.</s>JEFF FLOCK, CNN CHICAGO BUREAU CHIEF: Indeed, once I emerge from behind that truck, perhaps, in the suburb of Park Ridge, Illinois, just to the north and west of Chicago. And perhaps you see: We talked earlier about, perhaps, the snow tapering off before setting in again. I'm not sure if we've had the taper-off yet because it's snowing very, very heavily right now, perhaps as much as a foot before it's done. Another picture from downtown Park Ridge, this suburb of Chicago of about 33,000 people, and you see a sale on, a winter sale, and perhaps they jumped the gun on that. I think people today may be willing to pay full price. Out at O'Hare, which is, of course, something that affects everyone both here in Chicago and elsewhere, as well, the count so far is 276 flights canceled. That is up to the hour of 1:00 local time, and then beyond that there may be additional cancellations. Some of that -- American, for example, canceling about 50 percent of its flights. Much of that was able to be -- people able to be routed around this storm because it was forecast to come in last night. And of course it had -- it came in a little late and is now here in full force only now. And of course that means that tonight's commute home will be a mess. We'll continue to watch it. For now, I'm Jeff Flock, CNN, reporting live from the Chicago suburb of Park Ridge, Illinois.</s>RUSELER: Thanks, Jeff.
Winter Storm Thwarts Air Traffic in Chicago