Indiana State Police

CHICAGO (AFP) – The central United States was caught in the grip of a historic winter storm Wednesday, buried by drifting snow and sleet that ground air and road travel to a halt.

MUNCIE — East Central Indiana appears to have avoided any significant calamity in connection with what was expected to be a catastrophic ice storm.

CHICAGO (Reuters) – A monster winter storm stretching from New Mexico to Maine laid down a sheet of ice on the Plains and lower Midwest on Tuesday, turning to snow as it crept north, and forecasters said the worst was yet to come.

A 3 car pile up on the bypass and US 31 shut down traffic southbound overnight into Wednesday morning while Indiana State Police cleaned up the accident.

A Kentucky woman was seriously injured on Interstate 74 alongside an Indiana State Police trooper in southern Shelby County on slick roads.

The central US has been caught in the grip of a historic winter storm, buried by drifting snow and sleet that stopped air and road travel.

While travel restrictions in place across most Greater Lafayette counties mean residents shouldn’t be out on the roads this morning, here’s a look at road conditions around 6 a.m.

The Blizzard of 2011 has struck, leaving no area untouched by dense, deep snow. Snow that fell in one place was picked up and whipped by “blizzard quality” winds overnight. Impassable roads are the norm throughout Michiana Wednesday morning.