National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists are warning of snow in 10 states amid a slew of winter weather advisories that 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 more highlighted advisories, NWS Weather Prediction Center meteorologist Peter Mullinax told Newsweek.
States under winter weather advisories with the risk of snow include Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Minnesota, Michigan, Montana, Wisconsin and Nevada.
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For the upper Midwest areas, Mullinax said the storm would leave a 2- to 4-inch “swath of snowfall” from central Minnesota through parts of northern Wisconsin and into the Michigan Upper Peninsula. Minneapolis and St. Paul might see some minor snowfall as well.
The system in the Pacific Northwest is a “series of smaller, storm-embedded disturbances” moving across the region, Mullinax said, bringing a stream of moisture to several states.
Mullinax said snow would likely be highest in the Cascades, where up to 3 feet was expected in high-elevation areas. Winter weather advisories also extend into the northern Sierra Nevada mountains in California and parts of the northern Rocky Mountains in southwest Montana and central Idaho.
He warned that the snow will be a multi-day event, with snowfall rates increasing Thursday night into Friday.
Many advisories warned of hazardous travel conditions.
“Snow covered roads, chain controls and travel delays possible. The hazardous conditions could impact the Thursday morning and evening commutes. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches,” the Sacramento, California, advisory said.
Some advisories warned of periods of heavier snowfall, including in Washington and California.
The Seattle, Washington, office said that residents can expect a “brief break” in the steadier snowfall on Thursday before it increases in intensity Thursday night through Friday.
Some meteorologists urged people to keep a winter emergency driving kit easily accessible in their car, with items like a flashlight, batteries, blankets, a shovel, water, non-perishable food items and tire chains.
Other areas warned that heavy rain will turn to heavy snow as the storms progress.
“Widespread rain is developing early this morning and will become heavy at times. As colder air begins to move in this morning, the rain will transition to heavy snow from west to east with snowfall rates of an inch per hour at times into early afternoon,” the NWS office for the Twin Cities said. “A few embedded thunderstorms are also possible, which could enhance snow rates further.”
In addition to the winter weather advisories, other states were facing a wave of chilly temperatures that prompted freeze warnings and frost advisories. Parts of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and northern Texas were under a freeze warning, with a frost advisory impacting parts of northern Texas as well.