Heavy snow, ice, and strong, gusty winds are expected to affect 13 states across the U.S. with the National Weather Service (NWS) issuing winter storm warnings to the affected areas, which could see up to 15 inches of snowfall from Sunday night through Monday, and in some areas, even until Tuesday.
Why It Matters
A combination of accumulated snow, high winds, and ice is expected to create “hazardous conditions,” and the NWS is warning residents in affected counties that their morning and evening commutes could be affected, as blowing snow will reduce visibility, making many roads slippery, dangerous, and in some places, impassable.
What To Know
The following 13 states have been issued winter weather warnings: Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Maryland, and Maine.
Tennessee
In Tennessee, the Blount Smoky Mountains, Cocke Smoky Mountains, Sevier Smoky Mountains, Southeast Greene, and Unicoi Counties are likely to see up to 8 inches of snow, but areas near Mount LeConte and Newfound Gap could get between 10 and 15 inches, with wind gusts up to 40 mph, until Tuesday morning.
From Monday afternoon through to Monday night, Upper Cumberland, Bledsoe, Campbell, Morgan, and Scott Counties could get up to an inch of accumulated snow, with areas above 1,500 ft seeing up to 2 inches.
Portions of east Tennessee could get up to 3 inches (higher amounts are expected on the tallest ridges and peaks) by Tuesday morning.
North Carolina
North Carolina is likely to be hit with wintry weather until Tuesday morning. Swain County could get up to 2 inches of snow in the valleys, with 4 to 10 inches expected above 3,500 feet—over a foot is expected above 5,000 feet, in the Smokies. Winds over 45 mph could also lead to blowing snow, reduced visibility, and power outages.
Ashe, Watauga, and Avery counties might see gusty winds reaching 45 mph and up to 4 inches of snow. Graham, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell, and Yancey counties are likely to get up to 3 inches in the valleys, 2 to 6 inches above 3,500 ft, and 10 inches on the highest peaks, along the Tennessee border.
Virginia
Parts of Northeast, Northern, and Southeast West Virginia, including Northwest Pocahontas, Southeast Randolph, Western Greenbrier, and Southeast Webster Counties, could get up to 8 inches of accumulated snow, with winds reaching 45 mph, causing reduced visibility until Tuesday morning.
Ritchie, Wirt, and Putnam counties are likely to see up to 4 inches of snow by Tuesday morning, and Western Grant and Western Pendleton Counties up to 6 inches, with winds reaching 40 mph.
Bland, Smyth, Tazewell, Mercer, Summers, and Grayson counties could see between 1 and 3 inches of snowfall by Tuesday with winds gusting between 40 and 45 mph.
Illinois
Many parts of Illinois are expected to see Lake-effect snow, which is often localized, “with conditions varying from safe to dangerous across just a few miles.”
Kankakee County could see lake-effect snow, with accumulations of up to 8 inches in the hardest hit areas (around 4 inches in other areas), with 1 to 2 inches of snow falling per hour, until noon on Monday. The NWS believes that the highest amounts of snow will be near and east of Interstate 57.
Central Cook, Eastern Will, Northern Cook, and Southern Cook and Lake Counties could see intense lake-effect snow until Monday lunchtime, resulting in up to 10 inches in some areas, with around 8 inches expected near Lake Michigan. Snow rates could reach over 3 inches per hour, and winds of up to 30 mph are also expected to cause blowing and drifting snow, especially near the lake shoreline. The NWS has warned these counties that conditions “may temporarily cripple travel.” DuPage, Northern Will, and Southern Will counties could see similar conditions until around noon on Monday. Snow rates are likely to be slightly slower though, with around one inch falling per hour, with accumulations expected to reach up to 6 inches in the hardest hit areas, which are likely to be east of Interstate 355, especially toward Cook County.
Benton, Iroquois, Ford, Jasper, and Newton counties could also get lake-effect snow, with accumulations reaching up to 5 inches by Monday evening.
Champaign, Edgar, and Vermilion Counties might get between 2 to 3 inches of snow by Monday morning, with winds gusting as high as 35 mph. This has prompted the NWS to issue residents with the following warning: “If you are going outside, watch your first few steps taken on stairs, sidewalks, and driveways. These surfaces could be icy and slippery, increasing your risk of a fall and injury.”
Indiana
In Indiana, Lake and Porter Counties could see snow rates of around 3 inches per hour. Badly affected areas could get between 6 inches to a foot by Tuesday morning, with northerly winds gusting over 30 mph.
Portions of Northern Indiana could see up to 6 inches by Tuesday morning, with the bulk of the snow falling overnight on Sunday.
Fulton, Pulaski, Elkhart, Northern Kosciusko, and Southern Kosciusko counties could see lake-effect snow until Tuesday morning, which could bring up to 4 inches of snow to localized areas, with the heaviest amount due to fall overnight on Monday.
Cass, Grant, Miami, Wabash, and White counties could get up to 2 inches of snow by Monday morning.
Michigan
Parts of Southwest Michigan might see up to 6 inches of lake-effect snow by Tuesday morning, with the majority falling over Sunday night.
Alger and Marquette counties are forecast to get up to 6 inches of lake-effect snow by Monday night. The heaviest amounts will be near the Marquette/Alger county line and the higher areas of Marquette County, which could get up to 8 inches.
Lake-effect snow is also likely to affect Cass County, which could get between 2 and 4 inches by Tuesday morning, and Manistee County could see up to 6 inches.
Sanilac, Macomb, and St. Clair counties could get up to 4 inches of snow by Monday morning, with higher amounts expected in Port Huron. By Monday night, Delta, Luce, and Northern Schoolcraft counties could see between 1 and 3 inches, but areas in the far northern parts of Delta County could get up to 6 inches.
Keweenaw, Baraga, Southern Houghton, and Northern Houghton counties should expect up to 4 inches of lake-effect snow by Monday lunchtime, and Gogebic and Ontonagon counties up to 3 inches by Monday morning.
Pennsylvania
Elk and McKean counties might get up to 5 inches of lake-effect snow by Tuesday lunchtime, with the majority expected to fall Monday night into Tuesday morning.
Parts of Northwest Pennsylvania should prepare for winds gusting as high as 40 mph and snow accumulations of up to 5 inches by Tuesday lunchtime, and the higher elevations of Fayette and Westmoreland counties could get up to 3 inches and 35 mph winds.
Ohio
Parts of North Central and Northeast Ohio could see between 3 to 5 inches by Tuesday lunchtime, and Summit, Portage and Trumbull counties up to 4 inches by mid-morning on Tuesday. The Ohio Department of Transportation has reminded drivers in affected areas to “adjust speeds based on driving conditions as winter weather impacts Ohio roadways.”
New York
Lake snow is also expected to affect many parts of New York.
By Tuesday, local areas in Wayne, Northern Cayuga, and Oswego counties could get up to 9 inches of snow, Cattaraugus and Southern Erie counties up to 8 inches, Monroe County up to 7 inches, and Madison, Northern Oneida, Onondaga, and Southern Oneida counties between 3 and 7 inches.
Niagara and Orleans counties could see 2 inches of snow by Monday morning, and Jefferson and Lewis counties should expect freezing rain, mixed precipitation, and ice.
Kentucky
In Kentucky, Bell and Pike counties might see up to 2 inches by Tuesday morning, with more expected in areas above 2,500 ft, and Harlan and Letcher counties could get up to 4 inches, with more likely to fall in areas above 3,500 ft.
Wisconsin
Vilas, Ashland, and Iron Counties—including the Tribal Lands of the Bad River Reservation and the Northwestern area of the Lac du Flambeau Band—could get lake-effect snow, which could reach up to 3 inches by Monday morning.
Milwaukee, Racine, and Kenosha counties might also see lake-effect snow, reaching up to 5 inches by Monday morning, with the NWS urging drivers to “plan on quickly deteriorating travel conditions later this evening into the overnight hours, with low visibility and slippery road conditions.”
Maryland
Western Garrett County in Maryland is expected to see between 3 and 6 inches of snow by Tuesday morning, with winds as high as 40 mph.
Maine
Parts of the Central Highlands, Far Eastern, Far Northern, and North Woods in Maine could get ice and up to inches of snow by Monday morning.
What People Are Saying
The NWS issued the following information about lake-effect snow: “During lake effect snow, the weather can vary from bands of locally heavy snow to dry weather just a few miles away. Visibilities can also vary greatly. Be prepared for rapid changes in weather, visibility, and road conditions.”
NWS Pittsburgh issued the following on X: “Scattered snow showers continue today, with heavier bands developing this aftn/eve. We are still expecting the most impactful accumulation north of I-80 and in the ridges. High-end snow amount potential has decreased elsewhere.”
What Happens Next
The NWS has advised residents in impacted areas to monitor the latest forecasts for updates, and if travel is unavoidable, drivers should slow down, take extra care, and keep an extra flashlight, food, clothes, and water in their vehicles in case of an emergency.
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