(Image source from: i24NEWS)

Due to severe weather conditions in the United States, at least six were dead as heavy snow and winds snarled air and ground transportation during a busy holiday travel period.

On Friday, more than 500 flight cancellations and 5,700 delays were reported as the winter storm covered areas from the north central plains and the Midwest with eight to 12 inches of snow.

As much snow, if not more, was forecast to fall in the approaching days in the southwestern state of New Mexico, along with a flood of rain in some southern and eastern states - ruining New Year traveling plans for scores of Americans.

Millions more in the South were warned of possible flooding from heavy rains.

A 58-year-old woman in Louisiana was killed on Wednesday evening when lightning struck a tree which then fell on her home, TV station WDSU said.

In Kansas, police said icy roads caused a fatal car crash on Thursday on an interstate highway. Another crash involving a snowplow and a car in North Dakota claimed one life.

By Sowmya