Winter storm complicates driving in Central U.S.; heading south and east

A serious winter storm is creating hazardous driving circumstances throughout a lot of the Central U.S. and is anticipated to ship extreme climate circumstances throughout the South and finally the East by week’s finish.

Blizzard warnings are posted in elements of six states, from northeast Colorado and much northwest Kansas into western Nebraska, jap Wyoming, western South Dakota and southeast Montana. Climate circumstances have already closed many roads in northeast Colorado and western Nebraska as of this morning. Winds as excessive as 60 mph are anticipated in some areas.

“A robust winter storm is bringing widespread impacts to the Central and Southern U.S. right this moment into Thursday; impacts will attain the East Coast on Thursday,” the Nationwide Climate Service mentioned right this moment. “Heavy snow, blizzard circumstances, sturdy winds, and ice to the northern Plains and Higher Midwest. Extreme thunderstorms, together with sturdy tornadoes, and extreme rainfall, which can result in flooding from east Texas to the Florida Panhandle.”

The climate service mentioned the storm system will proceed to provide quite a few, widespread climate hazards from the Rockies to the East Coast. Each flash flooding and extreme climate can be a danger from the Decrease Mississippi Valley into the Southeast within the heat sector of the system, in line with the NWS.

There may be additionally what the climate service mentioned is “an Enhanced Threat” of extreme climate alongside the central Gulf Coast as storms will proceed to have the potential to provide extreme hail, winds, and tornadoes, together with sturdy tornadoes. 

Snow accumulations by means of Wednesday morning will vary between 10 and 18 inches, primarily within the Northern Excessive Plains. The best snow totals are presently forecast for western South Dakota, jap Wyoming, and northwestern Nebraska, the place upwards of 18-24+ inches can be attainable, in line with the climate service. Gusty winds upwards of 40-50 mph can be discovered east of the Rockies resulting in widespread blizzard circumstances and vital journey impacts throughout the Excessive Plains.

Farther east, accumulating sleet and ice are additionally anticipated for parts of the jap Dakotas into the Higher Midwest. The present danger for the best ice accumulation is for northeastern South Dakota, southwestern Minnesota, and northwestern Iowa the place Ice Storm Warnings stay in impact by means of Tuesday afternoon. 

The climate service predicts wintry precipitation will start to unfold eastward over the Higher Nice Lakes later right this moment and Wednesday and into the Northeast late Wednesday because the storm system continues eastward. From 4 to eight inches of snow is feasible for a lot of the Northeast.

To examine on highway circumstances and for journey advisories, name or go to one in every of these websites: 

• Colorado: 511 or 877-315-7623 (in Colorado) or 303-639-1111 www.cotrip.org