Winter and spring weather will clash across the nation's mid-section today, with blizzard conditions and severe thunderstorms today.
An area of low pressure moving out of the central Plains this morning into the Great Lakes by this evening will continue to intensify throughout the day. The storm’s northern and western fringe where sub-freezing temperatures exist will deliver a band of heavy snow complete with blizzard conditions.
Blizzard Warnings remain in effect from northeastern Colorado and northwestern Kansas to northwestern Iowa and southern Minnesota. Lincoln, Omaha, and McCook, Neb., Sioux City and Mason City, Iowa, and Rochester and Albert Lea, Minn., are included.
Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories are in effect from the Wyoming and Colorado Rocky Front Range to northwestern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Cheyenne, Wyo., Aspen, Colo., North Platte, Neb., Wausau and Eau Claire, Wis., and Marquette, Mich., are included.
Snow will pile up, with a zone of 4 inches to locally more than a foot of accumulation forecast from northern Kansas and southern and eastern Nebraska to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Meanwhile, a couple dangerous thunderstorms could develop in the storm’s warm sector ahead of a cold front from Iowa to Mississippi, Alabama, and as far east as western Ohio this afternoon through early Thursday morning.
The government’s Storm Prediction Center has issued a Slight Risk for Illinois into Indiana and Kentucky, with a smaller and stronger Enhanced Risk area focused on central Illinois. Tornadoes, severe winds gusts, and hail are all on the table, and the strongest tornadoes will fall near or under the Enhanced Risk. Additonally, Tornado Watches have been issued over a similar swath of land to the Slight Risk. Cities under these watches include Springfield and Champaign, Ill., Lafayette and Evansvile, Ind., and Bowling Green and Louisville, Ky. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has also been issued for much of Indiana, far southern Michigan and far western Ohio. This watch includes Indianapolis and South Bend, Ind. and Dayton, Ohio.
Other cities such as Des Moines, Iowa, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, and St. Louis to Nashville, Birmingham, Ala., and Jackson, Miss., could have a dangerous storm encounter, too. Today's risk includes the threat for a few tornadoes, especially across Illinois.
Strong, potentially power-disrupting wind gusts will remain a concern for much of the nation’s midsection today. Peak gusts of 60 to 75 mph will make travel difficult, if not impossible, especially in blowing dust or blizzard-like conditions. Widespread High Wind Warnings and Wind Advisories remain in effect from New Mexico to Iowa and far southern Minnesota and as far east as Kentucky and Tennessee.
It’s never too early to prepare for inclement weather. Simply by having an emergency kit equipped with a weather radio, extra batteries, non-perishable food, water, clean clothes and blankets will go a long way in keeping your family safe, warm and protected. Be sure to check the WeatherBug App or your local weather stations to keep informed on the approaching weather.
