MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Gusty winds and iced-over roadways made for treacherous Midwest travel Friday as a major winter storm headed east over the Great Lakes.

Two deaths have been linked to the storm, including one in a fatal traffic accident in Minnesota. Accidents and slide-offs were widespread across the affected states. Commuters faced strong winds of Lake Michigan in eastern Wisconsin. While Chicago's large fleet of snowplows salted and cleared the city's streets of 3 inches of snow, commuters slogged through slush to get to their offices.

About 270 flights in and out of Chicago's two airports were canceled Friday morning. Arrival delays of up to 90 minutes were reported at O'Hare airport. The Kansas City and St. Louis, Mo., airports both reopened Friday morning but had numerous cancellations and delays.