Winter Storm Warning as 24 Inches of Snow To Strike: &#03...

...

By Amanda GreenwoodShareNewsweek is a Trust Project member

Residents across many states in the U.S. have been given winter storm warnings, with some areas expected to get up to 24 inches of snow and blizzard-like conditions from Thursday through Sunday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Why It Matters

Snow and blustery conditions are likely to disrupt travel plans over Thanksgiving and into the weekend, with the NWS issuing warnings that visibility levels may fall to below a quarter of a mile in some affected areas, causing “treacherous” travel and “potentially life-threatening” conditions.”

What To Know

Several states across the U.S. are likely to experience high levels of accumulated snowfall and high winds, including Montana, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Alaska, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, South Dakota, and Illinois.

The Montana Hi-Line, adjacent to the Rocky Mountain Front, could get up to 12 inches of snow above 6,000 feet by Friday evening, and travelers driving over mountain passes have been advised that they might need tire chains. Highway 83 (Bigfork to Swan Lake), Essex, Bad Rock Canyon, Marias Pass, Glacier National Park, and Polebridge should expect up to 11 inches and 40 mph winds from Thursday afternoon into Friday.

In Michigan, additional snow accumulations of up to 10 inches are expected across the Delta, Luce, northern Schoolcraft, and southern Schoolcraft Counties, with winds as high as 45 mph, until Thursday evening. Antrim and Kalkaska Counties could get between 10 and 18 inches of snow, with up to 24 inches possible in Kalkaska and southern Antrim County by Friday evening.

Charlevoix, Crawford, Missaukee, Otsego, and Roscommon Counties could see up to 18 inches in areas, particularly across western Charlevoix.

Grand Traverse and Wexford Counties might get up to 8 inches and 50 mph winds through Thursday morning, and central and western Chippewa and eastern and western Mackinac Counties, in the Upper Peninsula, could see between 4 and 8 inches with 45 mph winds until Friday night.

Marquette County could get up to 6 inches and 50 mph winds throughout Thursday, and Alger County should prepare for up to 13 inches of snow and 50 mph winds until Thursday night.

Northern Erie and Genesee Counties in New York should prepare for up to 3 inches of snow and 50 mph winds until Thursday afternoon—with the NWS warning that “gusty winds will down tree branches and cause isolated power outages.” Chenango, Cortland, Otsego, southern Cayuga, and Steuben Counties could get up to 7 inches of snow and 35 to 40 mph winds from Friday into Saturday morning.

Northeastern Ohio, particularly parts of Portage, Trumbull, and Summit Counties, might get up to 6 inches and 40-45 mph winds, lasting until Friday evening, with snowfall rates reaching up to 1 inch per hour during the heaviest snowfall.

Cameron, Elk, Potter, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and southern Franklin Counties in Pennsylvania could experience between 3 and 7 inches of snowfall until Friday and possibly into Saturday, with winds gusting between 35 mph and 40 mph.

The Seward Highway from Primrose to Hope in Alaska could get between 6 to 12 inches of snow by Friday morning, and Turnagain Pass could get up to 16 inches.

Parts of north central, northeast, and northwest Missouri could see up to 7 inches of snow from Friday into Saturday night, and parts of east central and northeast Missouri could get up to 8 inches.

All areas in Iowa should expect between 6 and 14 inches of snow from Friday into Sunday, and parts of south central and southeast Wisconsin could get up to 6 inches by Saturday night.

Parts of central, east central, south central, and southeast South Dakota could get up to 8 inches by Saturday afternoon, and central, east central, southeast, and west central Illinois could see between 4 and 12 inches by Saturday night.

...

What People Are Saying

The NWS for New York said: “Plan on slushy and slippery road conditions and reduced visibility. The hazardous conditions will impact Thanksgiving holiday travel. If traveling, be prepared for rapidly changing road conditions and visibility.”

The Ohio NWS said: “The Ohio Department of Transportation and Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission strongly encourage motorists to heed all travel restrictions and delay unnecessary travel.”