As millions of Americans prepare to travel home for the holidays this weekend, forecasters warn that heavy snow and strong winds could cause significant delays. At least 17 states received a blanket of snow in the past 24 hours, with some areas in Montana getting 18 inches of snowfall. In the Northeast, they can expect cold air and gusty winds through Friday as a storm exits the area this evening. Powerful winds will continue to tear through the northern Rockies and High Plains, including Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, and Iowa, with localized peaks of up to 90 mph. While the Great Lakes should brace for lake-effect snow, which could disrupt roads and flights, particularly near cities like Buffalo and Cleveland. Conditions are expected to improve slightly by Sunday. The National Weather Service (NWS) has placed nine states under winter weather advisories as they expect even more snow, with up to five inches forecast. A winter weather advisory is issued for when “freezing rain, or when two to four inches of snow (alone or in combination with sleet and freezing rain), is expected to cause a significant inconvenience.” This is bad news for the record-breaking 119 million people will travel at least 50 miles during the latter half of December, according to figures from the American Automobile Association (AAA). While road travel may see slight reductions, an increase in air travel is expected to offset the difference.
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Winter weather warnings in 9 States as 7 inches of snow to hit
Winter weather advisories were in place for nine states across the country from the National Weather Service (NWS) early on Friday, with up to five inches of snow forecast in some areas.
Winter storm warnings were also in place from the NWS in parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin earlier on Friday morning, at the time this article was written. The NWS says that a winter storm warning is issued “when a significant combination of hazardous winter weather is occurring or imminent.”
Per the NWS, these include any combination of:
- Five inches or more of snow/sleet within a 12-hour period or seven inches or more of snow/sleet within a 24-hour period
- Enough ice accumulation to cause damage to trees or power lines.
- A life threatening or damaging combination of snow and/or ice accumulation with wind.
Read in full from Joe Edwards on Newsweek.
Heavy snow and freezing temperatures forecast for Notre Dame vs Indiana
Football fans are in for a cold and snowy kickoff to the first college playoff game of 2024.
The Indiana Hoosiers will be playing Notre Dame Fighting Irish in South Bend, Indiana tonight, where temperatures are forecast to fall to the 20s, with winds of up to 15 mph.
The region is expected to get snowfall through Friday, according to Accuweather, which predicts a couple of inches will blanket the field and stands.
Map shows how much snow fell in US states
The National Weather Service said at least 17 states across the Northern United States experienced some level of snowfall in the last day.
Newsweek has mapped snowfall across the U.S. in the last 24 hours, according to data from the NWS.
Early Friday morning, several states received winter weather advisories from the NWS, and winter storm warnings had been issued for parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin.
The NWS says that winter storm warnings are issued “when a significant combination of hazardous winter weather is occurring or imminent.”
Read in full from Joe Edwards on Newsweek.