A winter storm walloped the Great Plains on Tuesday, shutting down highways in five states and causing at least six reported deaths.

The storm system shifted from New Mexico into Oklahoma on Monday, leading to snow drifts of 4-6 feet and wind gusts of up to 50 miles per hour in some areas. According to the National Weather Service, the blizzard's effects could linger on into the busy holiday travel weekend.

A Snowy Trek
A truck travels along Highway 40 as snow covers the highway and the surrounding plains, west of Hays, Kansas December 20, 2011. A blizzard shut down highways in New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas and the panhandles of Oklahoma and Texas on Monday, stranding motorists and causing dozens of wrecks including a prison van in which two people died, authorities said. The storm moved into southwest Kansas on Monday evening, closing some highways and many schools for Tuesday REUTERS
Digging out
Cindy Gaschler (C) gets help from her two sons Eric (L), and Ethan (R) as they dig out in Ellis, Kan. REUTERS
Blizzard Blows
Al Ashmore uses a snow blower to dig out on in Hays, Kan. REUTERS
Blizzard Digging Out
A blizzard is expected to hit central U.S. late Thursday and into Friday, dumping at least a dozen inches of snow in the Eastern Plains region, including Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas. The area could see up to 24 inches of snow. Pictured here is a blizzard in Hays, Kansas from a previous blizzard. REUTERS
Cold Cows
A group of Angus cattle try to escape the weather as they hide behind a group of buildings in a corral near Ellis, Kan. REUTERS
Mexico Storm Mexico Storm