Gusty winds and a late-season accumulation of snow is expected from the Rockies to the Upper Midwest over the next few days.
This disturbance will continue to organize and gain strength today as it crosses the Rockies and emerges over the central Plains. Moderate to locally heavy mountain snow will fall throughout the Rockies today and will move into parts of the northern Plains later today. As this disturbance moves toward the Greats Lakes on Wednesday, a swath of moderate to heavy snow will spread into the Upper Midwest for Wednesday, with some lighter snow lingering across the Great Lakes into Thursday.
Various Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories dot the higher elevations across Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and northwestern South Dakota. Snow accumulations of 6 to 18 inches will be common, while some of the highest elevations could wind up with 24 to 30 inches of new snow! There are even Blizzard Warnings posted across portions of Kansas, Nebraska, southeastern South Dakota, western Iowa, and southwestern Minnesota.
Snow will become widespread from the central Plains to the Upper Midwest later today into early Thursday as the storm system becomes better organized over the central U.S. As the system moves northeastward into the Great Lakes, a band of 3 to 8 inches of snow will fall from central and eastern Nebraska to northwestern Iowa, southern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Winter Storm Watches are in place for these areas. Some locally higher amounts of 8 to 10 inches are possible, especially from northwestern Iowa to Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
The disturbance will also bring widespread gusty winds to much of the southwestern U.S., Rockies, and central and southern Plains over the next few days. High Wind Watches, Warnings, and Wind Advisories can be found from southern California and southern Nevada into the Great Basin, New Mexico, western Colorado, portions of the southern and central Plains, and Iowa. Sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts of 50 to 60 mph are likely near this storm system. Localized wind gusts up to 70 mph will also be possible.
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.
