CHICAGO (AP) ó A major winter storm is cutting a broad swath across the Midwest and Northeast, snarling traffic and cutting power to thousands of households.

The National Weather Service says heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain will continue through midmorning in Illinois and Indiana. Authorities are pleading with the public to stay home if possible.

Power companies are reporting more than 50,000 customers in Illinois without service. In Indiana, nearly 100,0000 outages are reported.

Roads are a mess and many schools are closed across northern Ohio because of snow, sleet and freezing rain.

In the Northeast, snowfall totals of up to 14 inches are forecast. Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick is asking nonessential state employees to stay home.