Winter storm warnings and weather advisories are in place across 11 states due to expected snowfall, freezing rain and potentially hazardous road conditions.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued winter storm warnings in Michigan, Wisconsin, South Dakota and Wyoming, while winter weather advisories extend to other parts of Wisconsin and Michigan, as well as New York , Maine, New Hampshire, Kentucky, Montana, California and Nevada.
A winter storm warning signifies severe weather with heavy snowfall of at least 6 inches in 12 hours, or 8 inches in 24 hours, or significant sleet accumulations. A winter weather advisory indicates less severe conditions, but still warns of snow, sleet, or freezing rain capable of causing travel hazards.
Here is the latest breakdown by state:
Michigan
Michigan is under widespread winter storm warnings and advisories, with lake-effect snow heavily impacting the state.
Warning Areas:
- Northern Lower Michigan: Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet and Otsego counties face warnings from 4 p.m. ET Wednesday to 7 p.m. Thursday. Snowfall of 8-16 inches, with localized totals exceeding 18 inches, and wind gusts up to 40 mph are expected to create treacherous travel conditions.
- Northwest Lower Michigan: Leelanau, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Manistee and Wexford counties can expect 6-10 inches of snow with localized amounts over 12 inches. Winds may gust up to 45 mph.
- Central Northern Lower Michigan: Antrim, Kalkaska and Charlevoix counties are forecasted to receive 8-16 inches of snow.
- West-Central Michigan: Counties including Mason, Lake, Oceana and Muskegon may see 6-14 inches of snow with patchy freezing rain.
- Upper Peninsula Michigan: Areas such as Keweenaw and Houghton counties are likely to see 5-12 inches of snow, with winds gusting to 35 mph.
Advisory Areas:
Southern Michigan counties, including Osceola and Newaygo, are under advisories, with accumulations ranging from 2-7 inches. South-central Michigan could see 2-4 inches of snow with gusty winds up to 35 mph, leading to slippery roadways.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin's northern counties are bracing for heavy lake-effect snow.
Warning Areas:
Iron County is under a winter storm warning until midnight Wednesday, expecting 6-12 inches of snow in northern areas, with reduced visibility likely.
Advisory Areas:
Ashland and Bayfield counties are under advisories until 6 p.m. CST Wednesday, with 3-6 inches of snow forecast. Slippery roads could disrupt morning and evening commutes.
South Dakota and Wyoming
Warning Areas:
The northern Black Hills in both South Dakota and Wyoming are under a winter storm warning until 5 p.m. MST Wednesday. An additional 2-4 inches of snow, along with gusts of up to 35 mph, are expected to make for slippery road conditions.
New York
Advisory Areas:
New York's Livingston County is under a winter weather advisory from 7 p.m. Wednesday to 4 a.m. EST Friday. Lake-effect snow could result in 4-7 inches of accumulation, with strong winds contributing to blowing and drifting snow.
Maine and New Hampshire
Freezing rain and light snow are expected across coastal and northern regions of Maine and New Hampshire.
Advisory Areas:
- Coastal and southern Maine and New Hampshire could see up to 0.1 inches of ice accumulation. Power outages are possible.
- Northern Maine, including Aroostook County, may experience mixed precipitation with icy roads and reduced visibility.
Kentucky
Advisory Areas:
Eastern Kentucky is under advisories for snow accumulations of up to 3 inches in higher terrain. Advisories are in effect until noon ET Wednesday, with difficult travel conditions expected on mountain routes.
Montana
Montana is under advisories for light to moderate snowfall across central and southeastern areas.
Advisory Areas:
- South-central and southeast Montana, including counties such as Rosebud and Carter, could see up to 3 inches of snow.
- North-central areas including Garfield and Petroleum counties are forecast to receive 1-3 inches of snow, with hazardous conditions on bridges and overpasses.
Nevada and California
Winter weather advisories are in effect for areas along the Sierra Nevada in both states.
Advisory Areas:
- The Lake Tahoe region, on both the Nevada and California sides, may see 1-4 inches of snow at lower elevations, with up to 10 inches possible at higher altitudes. Winds gusting to 90 mph could bring down trees and power lines.
- Mono County is forecasted to receive up to 8 inches of snow along the Sierra crest.
- Lassen, Eastern Plumas and Eastern Sierra Counties may receive 1-4 inches of snow, with up to 6 inches possible west of Highway 395. The advisory remains in effect from 10 p.m. Wednesday to 4 p.m. PST Thursday.
Safety Precautions
The NWS advises residents to avoid unnecessary travel, monitor local weather updates, and prepare emergency kits with essential supplies. Hazardous conditions are likely to disrupt morning and evening commutes in affected areas.
Travelers are urged to use caution and remain informed through official channels like state-operated 511 services for the latest road conditions.
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