Major winter storm forecast to impact parts of the Northern Plains, U.S.

There is increasing confidence that a significant winter storm will affect parts of the Northern Plains later this week. While uncertainty into the exact track and strength of this system remains, it is likely that some areas will receive heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain.

Confidence continues to increase that a winter storm will bring a swath of heavy snow, and a corridor of sleet and freezing rain, to portions of the northern High Plains, Great Pains, and Upper Mississippi River Valley.

Intense snow rates will likely produce significant snowfall accumulations in some areas, NWS Weather Prediction Center (WPC) warns.

Strong gusty winds combined with heavy snow could produce blizzard conditions resulting in dangerous travel conditions.

Freezing rain and sleet are likely south of the heavy snow which could produce hazardous travel conditions and at least minor impacts to infrastructure.

Uncertainty remains with the timing, strength, and location of the storm track which determines where the axis of heaviest wintry precipitation and most notable impacts will occur.

Featured image credit: NWS WPC