Wednesday is bringing potential blizzard conditions and winter storm warnings and watches from the Southwest to Illinois.
Residents in parts of Minnesota and the Dakotas were expecting snow and wind gusts of up to 60 mph with blizzard conditions forecast in the area. And residents of nine states from Arizona to the Midwest faced snow accumulations that could reach over a foot in some areas.
Meanwhile, wind advisories that extended in 12 states on Tuesday mostly faded by Wednesday, though some states, including Michigan, were still expecting gusts up to 50 mph.
Here’s what you need to know about Wednesday’s winter weather.
What defines a blizzard? Heavy snow and high winds expected to sweep across country.
What is thundersnow and how does it form: Explaining how a thunderstorm can produce snow
Blizzard conditions in Minnesota, the Dakotas
A blizzard warning is in effect until noon on Wednesday in parts of Minnesota and North Dakota, with winds expected to gust as high as 60 mph and snow accumulations could reach four inches, according to the National Weather Service.
The warning remains in effect until 9 a.m. on Wednesday in parts of South Dakota.
Officials warned that travel should be restricted to emergencies. If people must travel, they should have a winter survival kit with them, and stranded drivers should stay with their vehicles.
Winter storm watch stretches from Kansas to Illinois
A winter storm watch was in effect in four states beginning Wednesday and extending into Thursday.
Snow accumulations could reach 10 inches in some areas, and visibility could be limited as winds gust up to 60 miles per hour, the weather service warned.
The states impacted by the winter storm watch include:
- Kansas
- Nebraska
- Missouri
- Iowa
- Illinois
What is wind chill?: Understanding the wind chill index and how it’s calculated
What’s the difference?: Sleet vs. freezing rain vs. hail
Snow spreads over Four Corners states
Winter storm warnings stretched over parts of Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico, with some warnings in the states extending late Wednesday and early Thursday. Snowflakes also extended into parts of Kansas, where a winter storm warning is in effect until Thursday morning.
Though projected snow accumulations in the areas ranged from just a few inches to over a foot, some areas at higher elevations were expecting up to 20 inches.