Winter storm warnings remain in place for much of the country, as the National Weather Service (NWS) warns that strong winds and up to 8 feet of snow could hit 12 states from Tuesday, making travel “very difficult to impossible” in some places.
States Hit by Winter Storms
According to the NWS, California, Nevada, Michigan, Wyoming, Colorado, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Montana, Alaska, New Mexico, and Utah are likely to be most impacted by winter storms.
It advises those in affected areas to monitor local forecasts for updates and, if travel is “absolutely necessary,” to slow down, be prepared for sudden changes in visibility, leave plenty of space between vehicles, and avoid sudden braking or acceleration.
California
The eastern San Gabriel Mountains and northern Ventura County Mountains are expected to get up to 2 feet of snow in areas above 6,000 feet, and winds reaching 70 mph from Tuesday, lasting until Thursday morning.
Places along the Interstate 5 Corridor, and the Santa Barbara Interior and southern Ventura Mountains could get 70 mph winds and up to 12 inches of snow above 4,500 feet, with up to 4 inches possible between 3500 and 4500 feet—which includes part of the Interstate 5—until Thursday morning.
The eastern and western Antelope Valley Foothills, the western San Gabriel Mountains, and the Highway 14 Corridor could get wind gusts reaching 70 mph from Tuesday night and up to 8 inches of snow in areas above 4,500 feet by Thursday.
The eastern Sierra slopes and the White and Inyo Mountains could get between 2 and 3 feet of snow above 8,000 feet and wind gusts between 50 mph and 70 mph, lasting until Wednesday night, which is likely to reduce visibility to less than a quarter of a mile at times.
Communities in the Frazier Mountains, Piute Walker Basin, and Tehachapi are expected to get up to 27 inches of snow and 50 mph winds, lasting until Wednesday night, and parts of western Siskiyou county could get up to 3 feet of snow above 5,000 feet by Thursday morning.
The Humboldt and Del Norte Interior could see up to 22 inches of snow above 3,500 feet by Wednesday night, with the heaviest snowfall expected through Tuesday— “tire chains will be necessary, if traveling through mountain passes,” the NWS says.
Up to 14 inches of snow is forecast to fall across Lake county and the northern Mendocino Interior, along with 45 mph winds, and Trinity county could get up to 17 inches of snow above 3,000 feet, lasting until Wednesday afternoon.
The western slopes of the northern Sierra Nevada and western Plumas county—including Lassen Park—could get up to 8 feet of snow in areas above 3,500 feet and up to 55 mph winds until Thursday night.
Nevada
Up to 10 inches of snow is forecast to fall across Esmeralda and central Nye counties by Wednesday night, with the NWS warning that travel along Highway 266, over the Lida Summit, may be difficult.
Along the Sheep Range and Spring Mountains—including Red Rock Canyon—around 2 feet of snow is expected above 9,000 feet, with winds gusting around 50 mph, until Wednesday night.
The Ruby Mountains and the east Humboldt Range in Elko county could get up to 23 inches of snow and winds reaching 60 mph, until Wednesday night.
Michigan
Through Wednesday, parts of eastern Upper Michigan, Alpena, Cheboygan, Emmet, Montmorency, and Presque Isle counties could get up to 9 inches of snow—the highest amounts are expected near the shoreline of Lake Huron—with 35 mph winds, making travel “very difficult.”
Alger, Delta, Luce, and northern and southern Schoolcraft counties could get up to 7 inches of snow and 40 mph winds from Tuesday through Wednesday, and Baraga, Marquette, Keweenaw, and northern Houghton counties could get up to 11 inches of snow and 50 mph winds from Tuesday night into Wednesday.
Wyoming
The Sierra Madre Range is expected to get up to 3 feet of snow by Thursday, and winds reaching 65 mph, which is likely to reduce visibility to less than a quarter of a mile, due to blowing snow. The NWS warns that “Outdoor recreation could become life-threatening to those caught unprepared for severe winter conditions.”
Colorado
The eastern Sawatch Mountains, above 11,000 feet, and the eastern San Juan Mountains, above 10,000 feet, could see up to 24 inches of snow and 70 mph winds until Wednesday night.
Rabbit Ears Pass could get as much as 24 inches of snow and wind gusts reaching around 55 mph until Thursday morning, with potential for “sudden snow squalls” which will bring unexpected heavy bursts of snow, significantly reducing visibility.
The Uncompahgre, Roan, and Tavaputs Plateaus, along with the Dallas Divide, are likely to get up to 17 inches of snow and 60 mph winds through Thursday, and the Grand and Battlement Mesas and the Elkhead, Park, and west Elk Mountains, up to 20 inches of snow by Thursday morning.
North Dakota
Between 3 and 8 inches of snow, ice, and 45 mph winds are expected for north central and northwest North Dakota from Tuesday night, lasting until Wednesday evening.
Minnesota
Koochiching, north Itasca, and north St. Louis counties could see up to 8 inches of snow and 40 mph winds, and northern Cook and Lake counties could get up to 15 inches of snow and 50 mph winds from Tuesday night through to around noon on Thursday, which is expected to cause “near whiteout conditions,” according to the NWS.
Carlton and south and central St. Louis counties should expect between 4 and 12 inches of snow and winds as high as 50 mph until Thursday.
Wisconsin
Winds reaching 45 mph and up to 8 inches of snow could fall across Bayfield and Douglas counties by noon on Thursday, with the heaviest snowfall expected on Tuesday night into Wednesday.
Montana
Northern Blaine county could get 60 mph winds and up to 3 inches of snow by Tuesday night, reducing visibility down to less than a quarter of a mile, at times.
Alaska
Between 7 and 15 inches of snow could fall across the south slopes of the Western Brooks Range, the upper Kobuk Valleys, eastern Norton Sound, the Nulato Hills, and the Interior Seward Peninsula by Wednesday afternoon, with blizzard or whiteout conditions possible.
New Mexico
The Tusas Mountains, including Chama, could get up to 8 inches in areas above 8,000 feet, with winds reaching 60 mph, and the northern and southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains could get up to 6 inches of snow above 8,500 feet with 65 mph winds, until Tuesday night.
Utah
The Wasatch and western Uinta Mountains could get up to 3 feet of snow and winds reaching 65 mph, and the Wasatch Back could see up to 18 inches of snow with 50 mph winds until early Thursday morning.
Up to 18 inches of snow is also expected across the southern Mountains, with 60 mph winds, lasting until Wednesday afternoon.
