Blizzard warnings were issued in place of parts of Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin as snow socked the states in tandem with breeze gusts topping 45 miles (72 kilometers) per hour.
The blizzard -- 10 days sooner than the birth of winter -- took its greatest toll in Minnesota, where as much as two feet (61 centimeters) of snow had fallen in some locations, according to the National Weather Advantage (NWS).
The splendour's largest burg Minneapolis was junior to a blanket of white 17 inches (43 cm) deep, the worst snowfall to clout the new zealand urban area in more than 19 years and the fifth-biggest on record.
As an indicator of the thunder-shower's severity, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport -- a traversing pivot with expertise in contending with foul unwell -- was shush down for the purpose the first time in years.