Winter Weather Warnings for 15 States With Up to 30 Inches of Snow To Hit

Winter weather-related warnings were in place for 15 states from the National Weather Service Monday morning, with up to 30 inches of snow forecast for some parts of the country.

Why It Matters

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

Winter storms can trigger power outages, while heavy snowfall may hinder travel and create hazardous driving conditions.

NV snow — View of Lake Tahoe from the Tahoe East Shore Trail, with pine trees in the foreground and snow-capped mountains in the distance, Incline Village, Nevada, February 16, 2025.

Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

What To Know

At the time of writing, winter weather advisories were in place in parts of California, Utah, Arizona and Montana.

These are issued “for any amount of freezing rain, or when two to four 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.”

Winter storm warnings, meaning “a significant combination of hazardous winter weather is occurring or imminent,” were in place in Nevada.

While forecast snowfall varied across the country, in Nevada’s Ruby Mountains the NWS said up to 30 inches of heavy snow could be expected.

It warned that travel would be “extremely difficult to nearly impossible” and said the Monday morning commute would be impacted.

“Snow covered roads are expected on State Road 229 through Secret Pass, up into Lamoille Canyon, and across Harrison Pass in the southern end of the Ruby Mountains,” it said.

Up to 15 inches would also be possible for parts of Lander and Eureka counties, said the weather service.

There were also winter storm watches in effect in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, South Dakota and Wyoming.

The NWS says these are issued “when there is the potential for significant and hazardous winter weather within 48 hours.”

According to the service, up to 8 inches of snow and “blizzard conditions” were possible in Minnesota’s Dakota, Blue Earth, Faribault, Freeborn, Le Sueur, Martin, Rice, Steele, Waseca, Watonwan and Goodhue Counties.

Wisconsin’s Barron, Rusk, Chippewa, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, and St. Croix Counties could also see 8 inches, with wind gusts as high as 40 miles per hour.

Blizzard Warnings

Blizzard warnings have also been issued for Alaska, northeastern Colorado, parts of central and western Nebraska and a portion of northwestern Kansas.

In Acron and Limon, Colorado, the NWS said up to 8 inches of snow with wind gusts as high as 65 miles per hour were expected.

“Alter your travel plans,” it advised. “Heavy snowfall, blowing snow and poor visibility are expected to make travel very difficult to impossible.”

Blizzard conditions were also forecast for Julesburg and Holyoke.

Portions of north central, southwest and west central Nebraska could see between 2 and 5 inches of snow, as well as gusts up to 65 mph. Whiteout conditions were expected to make travel “potentially life-threatening,” said the NWS.

Kansas’ Cheyenne County could see winds gusting as high as 70 miles per hour and whiteout conditions, with between 2 and 4 inches of snow.

What People Are Saying

The NWS Forecast office, North Platte, Nebraska, posted on X, Monday: “Lots of moving parts to the forecast Tuesday into Wednesday! High confidence in very strong winds. Low confidence in snowfall amounts and exact locations. Be prepared for hazardous travel with potential for Blizzard/whiteout conditions and strong crosswinds on I-80.”

NWS Reno, Nevada, said on X: “For those living out in the West-Central NV from US-95 eastward, it’s snowing over higher passes along Highway 50 east of Fallon. Snow showers are still passing over I-80 east from Lovelock to Winnemucca. Please drive with extra caution.”