A major storm system that blanketed a large swathe of the central and eastern United States in snow and ice -- disrupting travel for millions and contributing to at least five deaths -- was headed offshore Monday night,

A major, disruptive winter storm was sweeping across the central U.S. on Sunday, forecasters said, bringing with it a dreaded combination of snow, ice and plunging temperatures. The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings from Kansas and Missouri — where blizzard conditions are expected — to New Jersey.