Winter storms at both ends of the country dumped snow and snarled air and land travel, killing at least 10 people, blocking major highways and even stranding 400 train passengers in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest.

Nearly 19 centimetres of snow was reported at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport before the front moved out of the area Friday. About 500 flights were cancelled at O’Hare and 600 flights on Thursday. The airport also housed hundreds of stranded travellers who spent the night awaiting planes from other cities also affected by the storm. At least 30 centimetres of snow was reported in Springfield by Friday morning, said National Weather Service meteorologist Gino Izzi. Other parts of Illinois saw similar amounts.

“If you don’t have to be out here, don’t,” Ty Wilson, a very wet Chicago bicycle messenger, said as he stopped along a slushy street between morning deliveries.

The storm brought snow, freezing rain and sleet to the Northeast, where arriving flights at Newark Liberty Airport were delayed as long as three hours on Friday afternoon.

At least four people died on Friday on ice-slicked New York state roads. Six people died on Illinois roads on Thursday and Friday.