Winter storm warnings have been issued in four states as meteorologists predict nearly 15 inches of snowfall in some areas from Thursday into Friday morning.
The affected states include parts of Wyoming, Colorado, New York and Vermont.
Travel could become very hazardous in these locations, and 50 mile per hour wind gusts in Vermont and New York may down tree branches and power lines, potentially causing sporadic outages, the National Weather Service warned.
Those winds could also reduce visibility on the roads by blowing snow, the agency added.
‘If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency,’ officials advised.
New York and Vermont are expected to see the heaviest snowfall, with four to 14 inches’ worth.
Snowfall totals in Wyoming range from one to 10 inches, and in Colorado six to 12 inches could fall.
Winter storm warnings have been issued in four states as meteorologists predict nearly 15 inches of snowfall in some areas from Thursday into Friday morning
In New York, counties such as Saint Lawrence, Franklin and Clinton are in the path of this storm, and Vermont counties including Chittenden and Lamoille will also be affected, among other areas.
These states will remain under a winter storm warning until 7am ET Friday.
In Wyoming, the alert is in affect in the following mountain regions: the Salt River Range, Wyoming Range, the Tetons, the Gros Ventre Mountains, the Sierra Madre Range and the Snowy Range.
The Salt River and Wyoming Ranges can expect two to four inches of snow and wind gusts up to 45 miles per hour.
‘Travel could be very difficult, including over Salt River Pass,’ the NWS warned.
In the Tetons and the Gros Ventre Mountains, one to three inches could accumulate, impacting the morning commute on Teton Pass and Togwotee Pass.
The Snowy Range and Sierra Madre Range will see the most snowfall, including the cities of Albany and Centennial. Between six and 10 inches is expected in these areas, with wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour.
‘Outdoor recreation could become dangerous to those caught unprepared for hazardous winter conditions. Hunters, hikers, and snowmobilers may become disoriented and lost due to low visibility in falling and blowing snow,’ the NWS stated.
The winter storm warning will remain in effect until 5pm MST Thursday for this region, and until 11am MST Thursday for the Salt River and Wyoming ranges as well as the Tetons and the Gros Ventre Mountains.
In Colorado, the Elkhead and Park Mountains as well as Rabbit Ears Pass in the northern Rockies are under the alert. This includes the cities of Columbine, Hahns Peak, Toponas and Mt. Zirkel.
Columbine, Hahns Peak and Toponas can expect eight to 12 inches of snow ‘with locally higher amounts possible’ and 40 mile per hour wind gusts.
Counties in Colorado, Wyoming, New York and Vermont highlighted in bright pink are under currently under a winter storm warning
Six to 12 inches of snowfall is forecasted for Mt. Zirkel and Rabbit Ears Pass, as well as wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour.
These advisories come as meteorologists are tracking another winter storm that will spread snow and ice along a 1,500-mile-long swathe of the US.
The storm will arrive in the Great Plains this weekend and finish along the Atlantic Coast next week.
‘The storm is shaping up to be the first widespread cross-country winter storm of the season for the central and eastern United States and will negatively affect travel during the final days of the holiday break,’ AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski reported.
At this time, meteorologists are predicting a major snowstorm from a large part of Nebraska to southern and central Ohio and West Virginia, with three to six inches of accumulation.
Heavier snowfall totals of six to 12 inches — and possibly more in some areas — will encompass much of the Interstate 70 corridor from northern Kansas and southeastern Nebraska to southern Ohio.
Major cities expecting several inches include Topeka, Kansas; St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri; Springfield, Illinois; Indianapolis and Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio.
The maximum snowfall could be up to 30 inches somewhere from Northern Missouri to west-central Illinois to northeastern Kansas.
These advisories come as meteorologists are tracking another winter storm that will spread snow and ice along a 1,500-mile-long swath of the US
But snow isn’t all that America’s Heartland will have to worry about this weekend.
A destructive ice storm could pummel southeastern Kansas to southern Missouri, southern Illinois and southern and central Kentucky, Sosnowski reported.
‘A heavy glaze of ice may bring down many trees and power lines that can block roads. The power could be out for days at a time in some communities when dangerously cold air invades in the wake of the storm,’ he stated.
‘There may be a great need for shelters to be set up to account for the population that could be affected.’
Once the storm reaches the Appalachians and the Atlantic Coast, major cities including New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Baltimore will be in its path.
Icy conditions may extend to portions of North Carolina, eastern Tennessee and the southern parts of Virginia, potentially affecting the cities of Richmond, Virginia; Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Raleigh, North Carolina.
Travel is likely to be hazardous in these areas.
