Heavy Snow and Blizzard Conditions Expected in Plains States and Midwest

A developing storm in the Plains and Upper Midwest is expected to deliver heavy snow and gusty winds across several states into Tuesday, with blizzard conditions possible in some areas.

The National Weather Service warned that travel in some areas would be hazardous and “near impossible at times” because of the forceful storm, and said that power outages were possible.

Winter storm warnings were in effect on Sunday in Minnesota, eastern Montana, North Dakota, northwestern Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin and parts of Colorado.

There is a high chance that at least eight inches of snow will fall from northern Nebraska and central South Dakota to central Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin, according to the Weather Service.

A blizzard warning was set to go into effect for parts of Colorado at 6 p.m. on Sunday and for most of central and western Nebraska starting at 1 a.m. on Monday. The Weather Service said that travel in these areas should be restricted to emergencies only.

The Weather Service in Omaha said that the Monday morning commute in eastern Nebraska would be hazardous because of reduced visibility from blowing snow and slick roads.

Thunderstorms and heavy rain were expected in Nebraska on Sunday before a transition to snow at night. Travel could be “very difficult to near impossible at times” from Sunday night into Monday morning, according to the Weather Service in North Platte, Neb.

Blizzard conditions were also possible over south-central South Dakota on Sunday night and Monday, the Weather Service said, and more than a foot of snow could fall in some parts of the state, forecasters said.

In Minnesota, forecasters warned of “treacherous travel conditions” in some parts of the state from Sunday into Tuesday because of the strong winds and heavy snowfall, which could exceed a foot. Blizzard conditions were expected on the north shore of Lake Superior on Monday.

More than 150 flights in and out of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport had been canceled or delayed as of Sunday afternoon, according to FlightAware, a flight-tracking service.

In the Central and Southern Plains, wind gusts of more than 50 miles per hour on Sunday could cause dangerous travel conditions, power outages and property damage, the Weather Service said.

In portions of the southern Plains, including parts of Oklahoma and Texas, there was a risk of wildfires because of the strong winds and dry weather. Critical fire warnings were in place in the area on Sunday.

This potent storm comes just after another storm brought several inches of snow from the Northern Plains to the Great Lakes on Friday and Saturday.