Heavy snow (up to 4 feet in some areas), blizzard conditions, ice, and strong winds are forecast to hit seven states from Wednesday, as the National Weather Service (NWS) warns residents in affected areas to “drive with extreme caution.”
States Affected By Heavy Snow And Ice Warnings
The NWS has issued winter, blizzard, and ice storm warnings to the following states, effective from Wednesday, in some cases lasting until Saturday: Washington, Montana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, Utah, and Idaho.
Washington
Areas on the upper slopes of the eastern Washington Cascades Crest are expected to get between 1 and 3 feet of snow and winds reaching 55 mph, from Wednesday through to Friday morning.
The south Washington Cascades could see up to 30 inches of snow, especially along the volcanoes, and winds reaching 45 mph, particularly along the higher peaks, until Friday morning.
Stevens Pass and Holden Village remain under winter storm and blizzard warnings, as up to 3 feet of snow is expected to fall, along with 50 mph winds, lasting until Saturday. The NWS has said that “If travel is absolutely necessary, drive with extreme caution and be prepared for sudden changes in visibility.”
Montana
Up to 4 feet of snow is forecast for the Continental Divide, along the Rocky Mountain Front, set to start from Wednesday evening, lasting until Saturday night. Winds are also likely to reach 80 mph through Thursday, which will create “whiteout conditions” and make travel “treacherous.”
The Lookout Pass, on the border between Montana and Idaho, could get between 12 and 24 inches of snow and winds gusting up to 65 mph from Wednesday afternoon until Saturday morning.
Lolo Pass, Highway 93 (from Sula to Lost Trail Pass), Bad Rock Canyon, Polebridge, Marias Pass, Glacier National Park, Essex, and Highway 83 (from Bigfork to Swan Lake), could see up to 7 inches in lower elevation areas and up to 40 inches of snow in the higher elevation areas—which includes Marias Pass—with winds reaching between 50 mph and 60 mph, from Wednesday evening until around noon on Saturday.
Wisconsin
Western Chippewa county could see up to 4 inches of additional snow and 30 mph winds until Wednesday evening, which could cause power outages, the NWS warns.
Price, Ashland, and Iron counties could see similar amounts of snowfall—with the northern parts of Iron county likely to see up to 5 inches—by Wednesday afternoon.
Between 5 and 8 inches of snow could strike Oneida, Vilas, Florence, and Forest counties, also by Wednesday afternoon.
Michigan
Dickinson, Iron, Gogebic, Baraga, Ontonagon, and southern Houghton counties are expected to get up to 6 inches of snow—especially over higher terrain—by Wednesday afternoon, and Alger, Luce, and northern Schoolcraft counties are likely to get up to 5 inches of snow along with 35 mph winds until Wednesday evening.
Areas north of a Gwinn‑to‑Michigamme line could see 6 to 10 inches of snow by Wednesday afternoon, with 2 to 4 inches expected south of that line.
Maine
Northeast and northwest Aroostook counties could get up to 5 inches of snow, alongside sleet and ice accumulations through Wednesday, into Thursday morning. The NWS has warned that “snow, sleet, and ice will make travel extremely dangerous.”
Utah
Between 30 and 60 inches of snow is forecast to hit Dixie, in southern Utah, from Wednesday afternoon through to mid-Saturday morning, with winds reaching 45 mph at times.
Idaho
From late Wednesday afternoon through mid‑Saturday morning, Highway 11 from Pierce to Headquarters—including Pierce and Elk River—could see 20 to 50 inches of snow in higher elevations, with winds reaching up to 35 mph.
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