Winter weather alerts from the National Weather Service (NWS) stretch across large portions of the northern United States early Friday, with a powerful winter storm expected to hammer parts of the Northern Plains, Upper Midwest and Great Lakes through the weekend.
Why This Matters
Forecasters warn that heavy snowfall and dangerous conditions from the storm could seriously disrupt post-Thanksgiving travel. The American Automobile Association expects more than 80 million people to travel at least 50 miles from home between November 25 and December 1, raising the stakes for any major weather event during this period.
Key Details
Winter storm warnings—issued by the NWS when a “significant combination of hazardous winter weather is occurring or imminent”—are in effect early Friday across much of Montana; parts of South Dakota and Nebraska; southern Minnesota; nearly all of Iowa; northeast Missouri; central and northern Illinois; northwest Indiana; southern Wisconsin; and portions of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.
The NWS expects heavy snowfall in north-central and northwest Illinois and across much of Iowa, with totals around 10 inches and localized amounts up to 14 inches.
The agency’s winter storm warning urges people to reconsider any travel plans. If driving is unavoidable, officials advise using extreme caution and carrying a winter emergency kit that could include tire chains, booster cables, a flashlight, shovel, blankets, extra clothing, water, a first aid kit, and other supplies that could sustain you if you become stranded.
Less severe winter weather advisories—signals that wintry conditions may cause “significant inconvenience”—are also in place for parts of Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Colorado, West Virginia and Idaho.
According to the NWS Weather Prediction Center (WPC), snow from this system will begin over the northern Rockies on Friday morning and spread east into the Plains by Friday afternoon. Snow is forecast to reach the Midwest by late Friday and persist through Saturday, gradually diminishing from west to east overnight Saturday into Sunday.
What Experts Are Saying
In a post on X on Thursday, the NWS Weather Prediction Center said that a significant snowstorm is expected to affect a large portion of the Northern Plains and Midwest from Friday through Sunday morning, bringing several inches of snow and creating dangerous travel conditions. The center urged travelers to plan ahead as the weekend approaches.
Meteorologist Noah Bergren wrote on X Thursday that a powerful winter storm is set to ramp up Saturday morning, with a broad swath of heavy snow from northern Illinois to Michigan and a cold rain for many in the central U.S. He warned of substantial air travel delays late Saturday, especially at Chicago’s Midway (MDW) and O’Hare (ORD) airports.
What’s Next
The NWS will continue to issue regular forecast updates through its website and social media channels as the storm evolves, and travelers are encouraged to monitor conditions closely and adjust plans as needed.
