nbc kurt gregory has our report. reporter: mother nation s icy grip being felt already in the rockies and great plains. a massive winter storm bearing down on a huge geographic area. 33 states have issued winter storm and blizzard watches or warnings. there are a lot offagetives being tossed around with a storm. disastrous, crippling, catastrophic. reporter: this storm is expected to drop more than a foot of snow across a stretch of 2 100 miles. roads already treacherous in minnesota. kansas opening national guard armories to serve as shelters. o hare airport s closed at 6:00 but reporter: chicago braces for its first storm since the blizzard of 1967. up to 2 feet of snow expected. this time we may potentially be dealing with a storm of historic proportions. reporter: the other major concern is ice. the weather channel is