Michael Thornton digs his car out from the snow in Chicago, February 3, 2011. A huge winter snow and ice storm cut a swathe from New Mexico to Maine on Wednesday, paralyzing much of the Midwest, stranding hundreds of thousands without power and stalling travelers and shipping. The two-day storm touched some 30 states and a third of the U.S. population. But it delivered its strongest punch to the Midwest, dumping a near record 20 inches of snow on Chicago. It moved rapidly toward the northeast bringing treacherous ice to New York City. REUTERS/John Gress (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENVIRONMENT)