Winter Storm Map Shows 13 States Forecast for Heavy Snowfall

A winter storm will bring heavy snow and hazardous ice from the Central Plains to the Mid-Atlantic later this week, the National Weather Service (NWS) has warned.

Why It Matters

Icing, snow, and other wintry weather affects pose a risk to travel conditions, and can disrupt other aspects of daily life, such as prompting school closures.

Certain groups, such as young infants and senior citizens, are also at higher risk from plunging temperatures.

What To Know

The service said there was "growing confidence" that a storm will produce "significant wintry weather" beginning later this week.

Regions in the Central Plains and Mississippi Valley, particularly along and north of Interstate 70, are likely to experience heavy snowfall, with a 60-80 percent chance of accumulating at least six inches, the NWS said.

The NWS map shows that central Illinois, northern Missouri, and parts of western and central Indiana are most likely to experience the storm's effects. It is also likely in parts of Maryland, Kansas, and Ohio.

There is also at least a 40 percent chance of impacts in Delaware, northeast Virginia, southern Iowa, northeastern West Virginia, some northern regions of Kentucky, and the southeastern tip of Nebraska, as well as small pockets of New Jersey.

NWS map showing states most likely to be affected by heavy snow. NWS

The NWS said there is potential for significant sleet and freezing rain to impact eastern Kansas and the Ozarks, possibly extending eastward into the Tennessee and lower Ohio valleys this weekend.

Additionally, some icing may affect portions of the southern Appalachians on Sunday.

States with the greatest potential for "significant" icing included parts of Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas.

What People Are Saying

Meteorologist Jim Cantore wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "This is a great depiction of what that storm will produce Saturday night through Tuesday morning and the challenges... that lie ahead."

Meteorologist Jacob Dickey wrote on X: "Major travel impacts likely across Central and Southern Illinois by Midday Sunday with the approaching winter storm. Keeping a very close eye on things, the storm arrives Sunday morning. Amounts still TBD, but areas with over 6" appear likely.

"Travel impacts across the Southern part of Illinois south of I-70 are expected to be major from potential ice and freezing rain. The central part of the state is expected to see more snow."

What Happens Next

The NWS said uncertainty remains "regarding the timing and location of the storm track, which will be important in determining where the most significant impacts will occur."

The service updates its forecasts regularly.

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