Blizzard Warnings are in effect for parts of Minnesota and South Dakota due to snowfalls that exceed 2 feet in height.
On Tuesday, a massive winter storm that will span 2,600 miles from coast to coast and could bring blizzard conditions, ice, and travel disruptions was moving east.
In the upcoming days, large portions of the country could receive over a foot of snow, and Minnesota will likely receive 15 to 25 inches. Tuesday morning, the storm's early effects could be felt in the Northern Rockies as well as in the Northern Plains.
The West may also experience record-breaking cold temperatures, according to the Weather Prediction Center of the National Weather Service. Later this week, those readings might reach as far north as the Northern Plains. Authorities warned that flash freezes could occur in the Northern Rockies.
Blizzard Warning, 2 Feet of Snow
Eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota, from Sioux Falls to just outside the Twin Cities, were under a blizzard warning. Throughout the week, some areas could see snow accumulations of 15 to 25 inches, and winds could reach 50 mph.
The counties of Lyon and Osceola, which border Iowa, were also under the blizzard warning.
Minneapolis could surpass its February snowfall record of 13.8 inches, according to AccuWeather meteorologists.
Additionally, winter storm warnings were issued for Nebraska, Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Wisconsin, as well as the entire northern Plains. In Rapid City, South Dakota, snowfall amounts could reach 18 inches.
Through Thursday, there will be a lot of snow in the western Sierra.
South Lake Tahoe, meanwhile, will get about a foot of fresh snow.
Parts of northern Montana were under a blizzard warning from Monday at 11 PM to Tuesday at 5 PM, which comes with up to 10 inches of snow predicted in the area.
And a blizzard warning for southern Wyoming was in place from 2 PM on Tuesday to 11 PM on Wednesday, with possible snow reaching 14 inches in the region.
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Winter Storm Conditions
A winter storm watch that covered parts of Michigan from Tuesday night to Thursday morning brought a combination of snow, sleet, and freezing rain. According to the National Weather Service in Detroit, the winter weather could cause tree damage and power outages. The ice is likely to cause power outages and tree damage, according to officials. The hazardous conditions could make travel nearly impossible and affect the morning as well as evening commute. Tree branches nearby may fall due to strong wind gusts.
A winter weather advisory is in effect for parts of New York from Tuesday at 10 PM to Tuesday at 7 PM, and up to 5 inches of snow are possible, USA Today reports.
According to the National Weather Service, the area's maximum snowfall rates this afternoon and through the early evening could reach 1 inch per hour. By late Wednesday night into Thursday, there could be moderate to heavy snow that occasionally mixes with or changes to a wintry mix of sleet and also freezing rain.
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