Snow, rain spread across much of U.S.

A storm system stretching from the Dakotas to New York carried heavy snow to some areas and thunderstorms to others Friday, weather officials said. A snowstorm hit Chicago around midnight and was re-energized around 4 a.m., laying down another layer of heavy wet snow in time for the morning commute and air travel, the Chicago Tribune reported. Five to 8 inches of snow was reported in the region. Severe conditions forced more than 300 flights to be canceled at O\'Hare International Airport, Chicago\'s Aviation Department reported. Airlines said they were experiencing delays for arrivals and departures Officials said Midway Airport also reported cancellations and flight delays. Detroit was hit by heavy bands of snow Thursday night into Friday morning, with totals ranging from 3 to 8 inches, WDIV-TV, Detroit, reported. Southern Wisconsin had 3-5 inches of snow in a season that hasn\'t had a single winter-storm warning, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. A cold front was forecast to trigger strong-to-severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and possibly isolated tornadoes from Virginia to Georgia, Accuweather.com reported. Cities in the path of the cold front include Norfolk, Va., Raleigh, N.C., Columbia, S.C., and Augusta, Ga. Forecasters said thunder could rumble as far north as southern New Jersey and as far south as the Gulf Coast. New York was under a high wind advisory through Saturday afternoon, with gusts up to 60 mph possible, the weather service said. Rain also was in the forecast.