‘Very active’ snowstorm in the Midwest leaves one dead

A wintery storm predicted to hit heartland states hard was moving slower than expected Thursday, but meteorologists warn not to be fooled.

The storm “is starting to get back together,” said Kelly Sugden, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Dodge City, Kan., according to a report by The Associated Press. “It’s very active.”

Snow mixed with sleet — and lightning — was reported, by various communities from Colorado through Illinois, AP said.

One driver has already been reported dead. Cody Alexander, 18, of Alex, Okla., was killed when the pickup truck he was driving skidded and crashed into oncoming traffic on one state highway, according to Oklahoma Highway Patrol officers, in the AP report. Meanwhile, in northern Arkansas, a school bus crashed and nearly flipped on one snowy country road, injuring three students and the bus driver, AP reported.

Weather predictions are this could be the worst winter storm the Midwest has seen since the two-day blizzard in 2011 that left two dozen killed and hundreds of thousands without power for days, AP reports.

Up to a foot of snow is expected in several areas, AP reports.