Winter storm warnings are in effect across wide swaths of the West and Northwest, with some regions facing up to 10 inches of snow, wind gusts as strong as 65 miles per hour and potentially life-threatening conditions for anyone caught outside or traveling unprepared.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued the alerts on Sunday for parts of Alaska, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
In Wisconsin, the La Crosse office said snow would move from west to east overnight, with the heaviest bands expected over portions of Clayton and Grant Counties. Officials warned that roads across parts of northeast Iowa and southwest Wisconsin are already slick and snow-covered, urging drivers to use extra caution.
In Iowa, a winter storm warning is in place until 3 a.m. CST (4 a.m. ET) for Floyd, Chickasaw and Fayette Counties, where heavy snow and treacherous roads are expected. Central Iowa communities including Dysart, Iowa Falls and Gladbrook remain under a warning until 6 a.m. CST on Sunday and are likely to see hazardous travel conditions.
The NWS Quad Cities office cautioned that travel could be “very difficult” through 6 a.m. CST in portions of east-central and northeast Iowa. Across the border in Illinois, Carroll and Whiteside Counties are forecast to face “slippery road conditions” due to overnight snowfall.
In Colorado, the Elkhead and Park Mountains are forecast to receive up to 3 inches of snow, accompanied by wind gusts near 35 mph. Forecasters described travel in these areas as “very difficult to impossible through much of the day and into the early morning hours of Sunday.”
Some of the most severe weather is expected in Alaska, where winter storm warnings stretch from early Sunday morning through Monday night. Hyder could see between 16 and 20 inches of snow, and officials are advising residents not to travel unless absolutely necessary. The NWS office in Juneau noted that cold air will continue pushing south into early next week, increasing the odds of a prolonged snowfall event.
Skagway, Haines Borough and Klukwan are forecast to receive 12 to 18 inches of snow and winds up to 50 mph through Sunday afternoon. Eastern Chichagof Island could pick up 8 to 14 inches with gusts near 35 mph, while Glacier Bay may see 10 to 20 inches of snow and winds up to 40 mph.
In its alert for Skagway, Haines Borough and Klukwan, the Juneau office warned that gusty winds may snap tree branches and that wind chills as low as 20 degrees below zero near White Pass could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.
In Wyoming, winter storm warnings cover the Sierra Madre Range and Snowy Range. Forecasters expect 5 to 10 inches of snow and wind gusts as high as 65 mph, creating extensive blowing snow and sharply reduced visibility. The NWS office in Cheyenne cautioned that being outside overnight could “become life-threatening to those caught unprepared,” adding that hikers and snowmobilers may quickly become disoriented and that frostbite and hypothermia can develop rapidly. The office said total snow accumulation in some higher elevations could reach 2 to 5 feet.
The latest warnings follow a week of similar alerts from the NWS, including advisories about possible “record colds” across the Midwest, Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic. Residents there have been urged to dress in layers, limit time outdoors and take steps to prevent frostbite and hypothermia.
In its Day 3–7 Hazards Outlook issued Sunday, the NWS said heavy snow is possible in parts of Michigan, New York, Minnesota, North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Washington later this week, with additional warnings for heavy precipitation in Washington and Oregon.
Those traveling during the storm are advised to keep an extra flashlight, food, water and warm clothing in their vehicles in case of emergencies. For real-time information on road conditions, travelers can visit 511ia.org (for Iowa), 511.alaska.gov (for Alaska) and gettingaroundillinois.com.
