A dangerous blizzard that can close major interstate highways is heading for the Plains and the Upper Midwest Tuesday night into Wednesday.

The combination of plunging temperatures, high winds and over a foot of snow can leave unaware motorists stranded on Interstates 35, 79, 80 and others. This is the areas expected to experience the worst of [...]]]>

A dangerous blizzard that can close major interstate highways is heading for the Plains and the Upper Midwest Tuesday night into Wednesday.

The combination of plunging temperatures, high winds and over a foot of snow can leave unaware motorists stranded on Interstates 35, 79, 80 and others.
This is the areas expected to experience the worst of the blizzard. However, the storm’s effects will be far-reaching.

The powdery snow will be pushed around by 40-mph sustained winds leading to huge drifts that will challenge road crews to keep up.

The strong winds from the storm will create subzero AccuWeather.com RealFeel® temperatures in many areas. Frostbite can develop on exposed skin in minutes.

The heaviest swath of snow will stretch from Omaha to Des Moines to Madison. However, many other cities over the region including Chicago, Milwaukee, Kansas City and Minneapolis will have either substantial snow or a wintry mix and most importantly travel delays and dangers.

Travel and outdoor exposure for long periods of time should be avoided in the core of the storm’s wind and snow.

If you must travel by ground through the storm, make sure you and your vehicle are winter ready. Throw a shovel in your car, pack extra blankets and make sure your cell phone is charged.

Expect substantial flight delays and cancellations at midweek not only from Chicago to Denver, but also ripple-effect problems across much of the nation.

The most substantial lake-effect snow event of the season so far following the storm will bury some communities that escape the front end blizzard.

As a result, some areas could be buried under feet of snow as the “December to Remember” continues.

Cold, Snow Will Focus on Great Lakes for Big Travel Wednesday

Colder air will sweep into the eastern part of the nation and will trigger snow around the Great Lakes for the busiest travel travel day of the year.

Colder air, more appropriate for late November, will first roll into the northern Plains then will sweep into [...]]]>

Cold, Snow Will Focus on Great Lakes for Big Travel Wednesday

Colder air will sweep into the eastern part of the nation and will trigger snow around the Great Lakes for the busiest travel travel day of the year.

Colder air, more appropriate for late November, will first roll into the northern Plains then will sweep into the East and South next week.

For many people, it will mean winter coat weather instead of a light jacket or sweatshirt.

Cold air passing over the warm waters of the Great Lakes will cause narrow, shifting bands of heavy snow to set up downwind, known as lake-effect snow.

The lake-effect snow will ramp up Tuesday night and Wednesday over the western and central Great Lakes.

The snow will then spread into the eastern Great Lakes and the central and northern Appalachians Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday.

Enough snow will fall to shovel, plow and slow travel in isolated areas, typical of lake-effect snow events.

Prior to the start of the lake-effect event, steady snow could slow travel along parts of Interstates 80 and 90 over the northern Plains on Tuesday.

Fortunately, snow should not be a problem around Chicago or Detroit as most of the time these cities manage to avoid lake-effect snow. Both cities may have a couple of passing snow showers Wednesday and Thanksgiving Day.

The Thanksgiving week cold push could be a precursor to what lies ahead for December.

After in-and-out cold air during the end of November, winter cold may lock and load in December.

AccuWeather.com Long Range Expert Joe Bastardi is expecting a colder-than-average December for the eastern two-thirds of the nation.

As millions of Americans hit the highways and skies next week for Thanksgiving, colder air will be sweeping into the eastern part of the nation and will cause an area of travel troubles around the Great Lakes.

The Thanksgiving week cold push could be a precursor to what lies ahead for December.

Colder air, more appropriate for [...]]]>

As millions of Americans hit the highways and skies next week for Thanksgiving, colder air will be sweeping into the eastern part of the nation and will cause an area of travel troubles around the Great Lakes.

The Thanksgiving week cold push could be a precursor to what lies ahead for December.

Colder air, more appropriate for late November, will first roll into the northern Plains and then will sweep into the East and South.

The push of colder air will have shock value in that it would follow what has been an unusually warm first half of November for much of the nation.

For many people, it will mean winter coat weather instead of a light jacket or sweatshirt.

The arrival of the cold air around the Great Lakes will cause a lake-effect snow event. Hence, our award for the worst weather next week.

The lake-effect event will be ramping up Wednesday over the central Great Lakes and will spread to the eastern Great Lakes and into the northern Appalachians Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday.

Enough snow will fall to shovel, plow and slow travel in isolated areas, typical of lake-effect snow events.

AccuWeather.com Long Range Expert Joe Bastardi is expecting a colder-than-average December for the eastern two-thirds of the nation.

After in-and-out cold air into the first week of December, winter cold may lock and load beginning during the second week of the month.