Death toll rises to six in unrelenting ice storms

Damaging ice storms continued their deadly march Sunday through the Midwest as winter storm watches and warnings stretched across much of the nation's storm-weary midsection.

At least six deaths have been blamed on a three-day siege of ice, sleet and freezing rain that has hobbled the region.

"Things could still be bad Monday," AccuWeather meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski told USA TODAY. "Parts of Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and all around the Chicago area. Thousands of power outages and of course definitely slippery travel."

"Expansive" ice storm warnings, freezing rain advisories and winter weather advisories had millions on edge Sunday from northeast New Mexico to the Upper Midwest, the National Weather Service reported. Many areas were blasted with a combination of snow and sleet.

The storm may have saved its most bitter fury for tiny Beaver, Okla., about 160 miles northeast of Amarillo, Texas. The little town was slammed with up to an inch of ice.

"This rates as just about the worst ice storm I've seen in the 47 years I've lived here," Mayor Kirk Fisher told USA TODAY. "Churches had to dismiss services. Power has been spotty on the east part of town. And tree damage is everywhere."

In Iowa, weather service meteorologist Andrew Ansorge said parts of the state could see two- to three-tenths of an inch of ice, about as thick as Time magazine, before the storm rolls out Monday. Southern Iowa could receive up to a quarter of an inch this weekend, which is closer to the thickness of a pen, Ansorge said.

"Safety is No. 1 during a unique storm like this," said Craig Bargfrede, winter operations administrator at the Iowa Department of Transportation. "This is one of those storms where we should pay attention to conditions and pay attention to media. If media advises 'Do not travel,' don’t travel."

Deadly ice storm, perhaps worst in a decade, batters nation’s midsection

The governors of Oklahoma and Missouri declared states of emergency, and the National Guard was mobilized in Missouri and Kansas, where about 200 guardsmen patrolled key roads and helped stranded motorists.

In Kansas, two troopers were stopped at a crash on I-635 when a pickup driver slammed into their cars.

"Our Troopers are thankfully okay! PLEASE #MoveOver & #SlowDown," tweeted Trooper Candice Breshears, spokeswoman for the Kansas Highway Patrol.

Parts of Springfield, Mo., were still reeling from a round of "thunder ice" following lightning strikes amid a buildup of more than a quarter of an inch of ice on trees, fences and parked cars, the Springfield News-Leader reported. The relatively rare phenomenon, which only occurs in especially turbulent winter weather, was also reported as freezing rain fell in Joplin, Mo., the Associated Press reported.

At least three road deaths were blamed on the storm in Missouri, the State Highway Patrol said. Two others were reported in Kansas and one in Oklahoma.

In Kansas City, the NFL delayed the AFC divisional playoff game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs, originally set for noon CT, more than seven hours to allow more time to treat roads and parking lots. Missouri Department of Transportation crews scrambled to ensure safe access to the game.

"Avoid travel if you can," MoDOT tweeted, adding a warning to "exercise caution today if traveling to the game."

Contributing: Molly Longman, The Des Moines Register