Blizzard forecast for Plains states; 24″ of snow possible

A large portion of the middle of the country is expected to get a major winter storm including blizzard conditions that could complicate travel on interstates 70, 80, 90 and 25 starting tonight in some westerly locations and continuing through Wednesday and Thursday.

The National Weather Service says the storm could deliver as much as 42 inches of snow in some locations and at least 8 inches of snow in most, and winds with gusts up to 60 mph.

The storm is forecast to spread blizzard conditions over most of North and South Dakota, Nebraska and much of Colorado. Parts of Minnesota, Montana, and Wyoming are under winter storm watches.

At the same time, high winds and damaging thunderstorms are forecast over a swath from the Gulf of Mexico to the lower Great Lakes. Accuweather forecasts, “From near Interstate 40 corridor to just north of the I-10 corridor, there will be the potential for a few isolated tornadoes to develop.”

High winds are expected in New Mexico, Texas, and Arkansas.