Blizzard conditions cause travel headaches

A blizzard that blasted the Midwest this week is finally winding down Friday night - just as holiday travel headaches are ramping up.

CNN Meteorologist Alexandra Steel following the weather and travel delays and is OutFront.Blizzard whacking the Midwest expected to lose strength

A blizzard that hammered the Midwest is expected to weaken Friday. But the road closures, school cancellations, power outages and travel delays spawned by the storm continue to cause widespread havoc and inconvenience.

Many people planning Christmas trips have been stuck at Chicago's two airports - O'Hare and Midway - because of flight cancellations.

"There is a long line of very unhappy people," said an air traveler quoted by CNN affiliate WLS. "It's not a good experience." The heavy snows will "finally begin to wind down by Friday," the National Weather Service said. But strong winds are still expected to hammer the region Friday and Saturday as holiday travelers take to the roads and head to airports. FULL POST