A major storm will target the central United States with a wide array of travel-disrupting weather conditions around the middle of the week.
After first sweeping through the West, the storm will strengthen across the nation's heartland around Wednesday and Thursday, bringing everything from damaging winds to heavy snow, rain and a renewed risk of severe weather.
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Travel-snarling blizzard may unfold over North Central states
A swath of heavy snow is likely to set up where cold air will pour into the northwestern flank of the storm.
Temperatures can plummet upwards of 30 degrees Fahrenheit from Tuesday to Wednesday across the northern Plains, forcing residents to trade in short sleeves and sunglasses for winter gear and snow shovels in a hurry.
After first pummeling the Rockies with fresh powder, the snowstorm will sweep northeastward into portions of South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin and the upper peninsula of Michigan.
Depending on the exact track of the storm, snow could extend as far south as Kansas. North Dakota may miss the brunt of this storm.
"In the swath of heaviest snow, disruptions to travel including flight cancellations and road closures are likely," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said.
"This has the potential to include the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area as well Wednesday night into Thursday," he added.
Snow totals can reach or exceed a foot in a swath of the North Central states. The snow will be heavy and wet in nature, making it difficult to remove from driveways and sidewalks.
"Snow may also streak well ahead of the main storm center along a narrow swath into the Great Lakes at midweek," AccuWeather Meteorologist Randy Adkins said.
Motorists with plans to travel along stretches of interstates 29, 35, 80, 90 and 94 should be mindful of the fact that snowy, slippery and difficult travel can impact a portion of their journey.
At this point in the year, snow must fall at a fast enough pace during the daylight hours in order to stick on paved surfaces.
AccuWeather meteorologists are concerned snowfall rates will be high enough in the corridor of heaviest snow for roads and sidewalks to become snow-covered even during the daytime.
As the snow initially falls, roadways will be wet due to warmth stored in the pavement. However, as the pace of the snow increases and cold air plunges in, roadway conditions can turn treacherous in a hurry.
Blizzard conditions can ensue as winds strengthen around the storm, adding further difficulties to road and air travelers.
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Strong winds to threaten damage, hazardous travel
The broad nature of the storm will cause winds to be stirred across a majority of the Central states, with gusts frequenting 40-60 mph. The strongest winds will whip through the central and southern Plains.
An AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 90 mph is possible across the Front Range and High Plains from far southeastern Wyoming through eastern New Mexico and the panhandles of Texas and Oklahoma.
Such winds can break tree limbs, down power lines, cause property damage, add turbulence to flights and flip over high-profile vehicles.
The winds will further reduce visibility in the corridor of snow and create a heightened fire danger where dry weather will prevail in the southern Plains.
Sections of interstates 20, 40 and 70 will be subject to the dangerous crosswinds.
Lakeshore flooding will be possible across the Great Lakes.
Rain, severe weather to accompany storm
A narrow swath of soaking rain will sweep through portions of the central U.S. that continue to deal with river flooding, including Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois.
In some of these areas, the storm will begin as rain before colder air rushes in and causes a transition to snow.
"Even if the heaviest rain avoids the flood disaster areas, cleanup and recovery efforts could still be affected," AccuWeather Meteorologist Alyson Hoegg said.
"The speed of the arrival of Gulf moisture may be a key player in the extent and nature of severe thunderstorms, such as determining whether straight-line wind gusts versus tornadoes are more likely," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.
The greatest risk for severe weather may focus on the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys on Thursday.
This storm will eventually impact the Northeast at late week.
Continue to check back with AccuWeather in the coming days for further details on the impacts of this major storm.
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