A major winter blast of snow, ice, wind and plunging temperatures in the U.S. stirred dangerous travel conditions from central and southern states all the way to the East Coast early Monday, prompting schools and government offices in several states to close.Video above: Sledders take over hills amid blizzard conditions in Kansas CitySnow and ice blanketed major roads across Kansas, western Nebraska and parts of Indiana, where the state’s National Guard was activated to help stranded motorists. At least 8 inches of snow was expected, along with gusting winds up to 45 mph.The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings from Kansas and Missouri all the way to New Jersey.“For locations in this region that receive the highest snow totals, it may be the heaviest snowfall in at least a decade,” the weather service said.Gary Wright wore a parka as he and his husband chipped away at thick ice coating …