Winter weather-related alerts from the National Weather Service (NWS) are in place for over a dozen states early on Saturday, after forecasters warned that a winter storm would lead to a broad area of snow from the eastern Plains through the western Great Lakes over the weekend.
Why It Matters
Forecasters caution that heavy snowfall could create dangerous travel conditions after Thanksgiving, as the American Automobile Association anticipates more than 80 million people will journey at least 50 miles from home between November 25 and December 1.
What To Know
Winter storm warnings—issued by the NWS when “a significant combination of hazardous winter weather is occurring or imminent”—are in place across parts of Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan.
A winter storm warning in place for most of Iowa until 6 a.m. CST Sunday said the state could see heavy snow, with total accumulations between eight and 13 inches and winds gusting as high as 35 miles per hour at times.
“Persons should delay all travel if possible. If travel is absolutely necessary, drive with extreme caution and be prepared for sudden changes in visibility,” the alert for the state read.
“Leave plenty of room between you and the motorist ahead of you, and allow extra time to reach your destination. Avoid sudden braking or acceleration, and be especially cautious on hills or when making turns. Make sure your car is winterized and in good working order,” it added.
Winter weather advisories—which are less severe than winter storm warnings but still indicate that wintry weather could cause “significant inconvenience”—span portions of North Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and New York as of early Saturday.
The NWS Weather Prediction Center (WPC) said on Friday that snow was already present in parts of the northern and Central Plains, and would stretch east into the Midwest Friday night, reaching the Great Lakes region Saturday morning.
“Snow will likely be heavy at times through Saturday before tapering off slowly from west to east by Sunday morning,” it said.
What People Are Saying
The NWS Weather Prediction Center said on X, Friday: “Heavy snow and gusty winds will lead to significant travel impacts across portions of the Plains and Midwest beginning this afternoon, carrying through Sunday morning. This will be a major winter storm for many with a large area seeing 6-12+ inches of snow over the next few days.”
What Happens Next
The NWS issues regular forecast updates on its website and via its social media channels.
Read the full article here
