Last week, a major winter storm slammed into the East Coast. This week, the plains states get their turn.
Winter Storm Hunter will bring wind, snow, and ice to the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes on Wednesday and Thursday, creating possible blizzard conditions in the Dakotas, Nebraska, parts of Iowa, and Minnesota. And it may pay a visit to the Northeast afterward.
Meteorologists say the storm will be a two-part act. The first is an Arctic blast accompanied by snow, but from Thursday night into Saturday, a second low pressure area will spread snow, sleet, and freezing rain further east.
Is it Mother Nature's version of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride?? Winter Storm #Hunter throws everything but the #kitchensink at places from Paducah to Buffalo. #winter pic.twitter.com/shEtlluYbS
— Tom Niziol (@TomNiziol) January 10, 2018
This morning 6.7 million people are under Winter Weather Advisories and 4.2M are under Winter Storm Watches due to #Hunter. By the time the storm wraps up, every state in the lower 48 will see impacts. Details on AMHQ. pic.twitter.com/eqBENntwO0
— America’s Morning Headquarters (@AMHQ) January 10, 2018
Placement of #snow, #ice areas, amounts TBD, but today's guidance (still awaiting full suite) still suggesting a *major* winter storm Fri->Sat from parts of the TN/OH Valleys into the eastern Great Lakes, northern New England. Our latest thinking: https://t.co/4Ix7iWuuap #Hunter pic.twitter.com/8eEkZyv6FQ
— Jonathan Erdman (@wxjerdman) January 9, 2018
New York and other east coast cities will likely be spared the worst of the storm, based on current modeling. Meteorologists, though, say the storm is still evolving and could shift, meaning the precise location and severity of the ice and snow are still uncertain.
Taking no chances, the National Weather Service has issued winter storm watches, warnings, and winter weather advisories in a number of locations in the upper Mississippi Valley, northern and central Plains, High Plains, and Rockies.