Winter storm warnings were in place for seven states across the country from the National Weather Service (NWS) early on Monday, with up to 17 inches of snow forecast in some areas.
A winter weather advisory was also in place from the NWS for parts of Utah at the time of writing.
Why It Matters
Difficult driving conditions could impact travel as many Americans travel across the country over the holiday period.
In some cases, the service suggested drivers consider delaying travel, and to drive with extreme caution if travel was absolutely necessary.
What To Know
At the time of writing, the states under winter weather warnings were Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming and Colorado, while a winter weather advisory was in place in Utah.
Affected areas included Northwest Oregon, western portions of Washington and Northern Idaho. In Montana, central parts of the state were under storm warnings, and a majority of the state was under a winter weather advisory.
There were winter storm warnings in western Wyoming, and in Utah, the central part of the state was under a winter weather advisory.
Much of South Dakota was also under a winter weather advisory, with an isolated spot in the western part of the state under a winter storm warning. In the Northern Black Hills, the NWS said heavy snow was expected, forecasting localized amounts of snow accumulation up to 17 inches in higher terrain.
The NWS warned people in affected areas that travel would be impacted by hazardous driving conditions, urging travelers to plan and prepare accordingly, such as checking tire chain requirements and keeping a flashlight, extra food and extra water in their vehicles in case of emergency.
A winter storm warning is issued “when a significant combination of hazardous winter weather is occurring or imminent.”
Per the NWS, these include any combination of:
- Five inches or more of snow/sleet within a 12-hour period or seven inches or more of snow/sleet within a 24-hour period
- Enough ice accumulation to cause damage to trees or power lines.
- A life threatening or damaging combination of snow and/or ice accumulation with wind.
As for winter weather advisories, these are issued “for any amount of freezing rain, or when two to four inches of snow (alone or in combination with sleet and freezing rain), is expected to cause a significant inconvenience,” according to the NWS.
What People Are Saying
National Weather Service Cheyenne, Wyoming, said on X, formerly Twitter: “New Years Eve will be cold with a chance of snow, mainly for southeast Wyoming. Highs will range from 24 to 36 degrees, with lows New Years night from four to 16 degrees for southeast Wyoming, and nine to 13 degrees for the Nebraska Panhandle.”
What Happens Next
While the duration of the winter storm warnings varied from state to state, the latest warnings were in place until 6 p.m. Monday at time of writing.
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