Updated Dec. 30, 2019 2:58 PM
The snowstorm that pummeled the northern Plains over the weekend may prove just as disruptive as it targets the Great Lakes with windswept snow early this week.
Snow will gradually wind down across the eastern Dakotas and western Minnesota into Monday night as the storm slowly pivots eastward. Gusty winds will continue to cause blowing and drifting problems in these areas even after the snow has ended.
As cold air wraps in behind the storm, places that had a seemingly springlike end to the weekend with rain and temperatures in the 50s and 60s F will turn wintry in a hurry.
"Following all rain so far with this storm, cities like Chicago and Detroit will have a wave of snow move through Monday night into Tuesday," AccuWeather Meteorologist Courtney Travis said. A coating to an inch or two of snow can whiten both of these cities.
The timing of the snow can lead to dangerous conditions for people commuting on the morning of New Year's Eve. In Detroit, it is possible that a heavier burst of snow, known as a snow squall, moves in right around rush hour Tuesday morning.
"This snow squall, and others over the Lower Peninsula of Michigan as well as northern Ohio, northwestern Pennsylvania and western New York, have the potential to rapidly reduce the visibility and coat roads in a matter of seconds," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
"As we have seen in recent weeks and prior years, snow squalls can be extremely dangerous for motorists traveling at high speed on the major highways," Sosnowski added.
Motorists are urged to slow down when the snow moves in, especially while traveling over bridges and overpasses. Timing for the snow squalls is likely to be from late Monday night to Tuesday morning over southern Michigan, northern Indiana and northwestern Ohio, during the day Tuesday over northeastern Ohio and Tuesday afternoon and night in parts of northern and western Pennsylvania and western New York.
The mild conditions preceding the snow will cause it to initially melt on the pavement, but as temperatures lower and the snow continues to fall, conditions can quickly turn slippery on untreated roadways.
Minneapolis will likely receive its own share of slick travel as the back edge of snow rotates through the city. AccuWeather meteorologists predict 2-4 inches to pile up Monday afternoon into Tuesday morning.
A widespread plowable snow is forecast after precipitation flips from rain to snow across Wisconsin and Michigan. By Tuesday morning, the northern tier portions of these states may be buried underneath a foot or more of fresh snowfall.
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Wind gusts past 30 mph at times around the Great Lakes region will further add to the travel difficulties.
"Blowing and drifting snow may continue to reduce visibility and bring snow back on to previously-cleared roadways," Travis said.
The snow and cold air will reach areas downwind of lakes Erie and Ontario later Tuesday. While snowfall amounts are not expected to be nearly as impressive as areas farther east, just enough snow can fall to create treacherous roadway conditions.
"As the storm exits, it is possible that lake-effect snow picks up downwind of lakes Superior and Michigan into New Year's Day," Travis said.
Any lake-effect snow behind the storm will be short-lived as an area of high pressure will be quick to move into the area and disrupt the flow of cold winds over the lakes.
AccuWeather meteorologists will then be monitoring the next storm set to track into the region after it first delivers soaking rain to the South. This storm may tap into just enough of the cold air in place to lay down a swath of accumulating snow in part of the Midwest.
Download the free AccuWeather app to check the forecast in your area. Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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