Winter Weather Warnings for 10 States As Heavy Snow Hits

Winter weather warnings were in place for multiple states from the National Weather Service (NWS) early on Tuesday, with heavy snow forecast for parts of the United States.

Why It Matters

Freezing temperatures may pose health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups such as infants and older adults.

Snow can disrupt travel and create dangerous driving conditions, while winter storms may also cause power outages.

What To Know

Winter storm warnings, meaning “a significant combination of hazardous winter weather is occurring or imminent,” such as significant snow and ice, were in effect in Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and California.

While the exact amount of snowfall forecast varied from state to state, up to 28 inches of accumulation would be possible in Idaho’s higher ridges, the service said. It added that travel in affected areas could be “very difficult to impossible.”

In Montana’s Crazy Mountains, as well as the Absaroka-Beartooth Mountains, the NWS said heavy snow with up to 12 inches of accumulation was possible.

“The heaviest snowfall will occur on south- and west-facing slopes. Expect increasing avalanche danger,” the NWS said, adding that travel and recreation in the high country would be “treacherous and potentially life-threatening.”

Winter weather advisories were in place in Washington and Alaska. These are issued “for any amount of freezing rain, or when 2 to 4 inches of snow (alone or in combination with sleet and freezing rain), is expected to cause a significant inconvenience, but not serious enough to warrant a warning.”

A cold weather advisory—signaling particularly cold wind chills or temperatures—was in place for the northern half of North Dakota, and a winter storm watch had been issued for Pennsylvania as well as small portions of Northern West Virginia and Western Maryland.

Per the NWS, a winter storm watch is issued when there is a possibility of “significant and hazardous winter weather” within the next 48 hours. This does not guarantee that such conditions will occur—it simply indicates that they could develop.

The service said portions of northwest, southwest, and western Pennsylvania could see “significant icing” as well as snow.

What People Are Saying

NWS Pittsburgh said on X, formerly Twitter, yesterday: “Keeping a close watch on the threat for freezing rain Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Timing issues still a problem as well as honing in on surface temperatures. We have issued a winter storm watch for areas with the highest probabilities to see freezing rain.”

NBC Montana meteorologist Mitchel Ryan Coombs said on X yesterday: “Winter storms will disrupt travel across western Montana through midweek. Expect moderate/major travel impacts, rounds of heavy snow & cold temperatures. Winter Storm Warning, Watches & Advisories in effect for all of western Montana.”

What Happens Next

Forecasts can be subject to change, and the NWS publishes frequent updates online.

At the time of writing, the NWS latest winter storm warnings were in place until Friday afternoon, while the latest winter storm watch was in place through Thursday.

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