The National Weather Service (NWS) has intensified its winter storm warnings, alerting residents across 11 states of impending snow and strong winds this week. The agency reported that a clipper system is moving through the Interior Northeast and New England, which is expected to bring light to moderate snowfall particularly affecting Upstate New York and regions of central and northern New England.
The NWS detailed that while the clipper system will leave the area by Wednesday, light freezing rain may complicate conditions in portions of the northern Mid-Atlantic through southern New England. Cold air flowing in behind the storm could lead to lake-effect snow around the shores of Lakes Erie and Ontario, along with additional light snowfall in the Appalachian upslope regions.
Unfortunately, those hoping for a respite from the winter weather may be disappointed, as 10 states—including Wisconsin, Michigan, California, New York, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Montana, Wyoming, and Alaska—are anticipating more wintry conditions. In New York, meteorologists expect up to 11 inches of snow, with snowfall beginning late Tuesday morning and continuing through Wednesday night.
As severe weather looms in the Northeast, forecasts indicate varying snowfall amounts ranging from a minor dusting to several inches. Montana and Wyoming could see soaring totals of up to 20 inches near higher elevations like Cooke City and the Absaroka-Beartooth Mountains. In California, winter weather advisories predict up to 24 inches of snow in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, coupled with wind gusts reaching 35-40 mph.
The Midwest is also in for a rough winter, with some areas expecting additional snowfall of up to six inches, particularly affected by lake-effect snow. In Alaska, forecasters warn that Anchorage and Fairbanks could accumulate up to 12 inches of snow along with blizzard-like conditions.
Amid these conditions, the NWS has urged caution regarding fog, which can quickly obscure visibility, making driving risky. Drivers are encouraged to remain vigilant as fog can reduce visibility to a quarter mile or less.
As the winter storm progresses, it’s vital to stay updated and prepared for changing conditions across the affected regions, reinforcing the importance of safety in hazardous weather situations.