Winter weather warnings issued for 10 states

Meteorologists with the National Weather Service (NWS) are warning of snow in 10 states, while numerous winter weather warnings were issued on Wednesday and Thursday.

The snow is coming from two separate storm systems – one over the Upper Midwest and one over the Pacific Northwest. For some states, it's the first snowfall of the season, prompting additional highlighted warnings, said Peter Mullinax, meteorologist with the NWS Weather Prediction Center Newsweek.

States under winter weather warnings with a risk of snow include Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Minnesota, Michigan, Montana, Wisconsin and Nevada.

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For the upper Midwest, Mullinax said the storm would leave a 2- to 4-inch “snow swath” from central Minnesota through parts of northern Wisconsin into the upper Michigan Peninsula. Minneapolis and St. Paul could also see light snow.

The Pacific Northwest system is a “series of smaller, storm-related disturbances” spreading across the region, Mullinax said, bringing a stream of moisture to several states.

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Mullinax said snow would likely be highest in the Cascades, where up to 3 feet was expected in high elevation areas. Winter weather warnings also extend to the northern Sierra Nevada mountains of California and portions of the northern Rockies in southwest Montana and central Idaho.

He warned that the snow would be a multi-day event and snowfall rates would increase Thursday night into Friday.

Many notices warned of dangerous travel conditions.

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“Snow-covered roads, chain checks and travel delays are possible. The dangerous conditions could impact commutes Thursday morning and evening. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches,” the warning said in Sacramento, California.

Some warnings warned of periods of heavier snowfall, including in Washington and California.

The Seattle, Washington, office said residents can expect a “brief pause” in the steadier snowfall on Thursday before it increases in intensity Thursday night into Friday.

Some meteorologists urged people to keep a winter emergency kit easily accessible in their cars, with items such as a flashlight, batteries, blankets, a shovel, water, non-perishable food and tire chains.

Other areas warned that heavy rain would turn into heavy snow as the storm progressed.

“Widespread rain is developing this morning and will be heavy at times. As colder air begins to move in this morning, rain will transition to heavy snow from west to east, with snowfall rates of an inch per hour at times into the early afternoon. said the NWS Twin Cities office. “Some embedded thunderstorms are also possible, which could further increase snow rates.”

In addition to winter weather warnings, other states faced a wave of cool temperatures that led to freeze warnings and freeze warnings. Parts of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and North Texas were under a freeze warning, with a freeze warning also affecting parts of North Texas.