Residents across the Northern Plains are hunkering down on Wednesday as a massive winter storm expected to impact millions threatens to bring record snowfall to parts of the country.
Schools across the Dakotas, Minnesota and Wisconsin have announced closures for Wednesday ahead of the major storm as officials warn residents to stay off the roads due to potential “whiteout” conditions.
The National Weather Service has issued winter storm, blizzard and high-wind advisories for swaths of the western and north-central U.S., with up to two feet of snow expected in some areas through to Thursday.
‘Numerous weather hazards’
The arrival of a large Arctic air mass from Canada “interacting with an energetic upper-level pattern and multiple frontal systems forecast to move through the country this week will bring numerous weather hazards,” the National Weather Service said.
Widespread heavy snow is expected to continue across the West and Northern Tier of the country, with storm total snowfall of 1 to 2 feet expected for most of the mountain ranges across the West, the weather service said. The heaviest amounts of snowfall are expected to fall across east-central Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin, it said.
Wind gusts could also reach 50 mph, with wind chills expected to reach minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of the Dakotas and Minnesota, according to the weather service.
“As forecasts predict up to 20 inches of snow, I’ve directed state agencies, including @MnDPS_MSP, @MnDOT, and @MNNationalGuard, to take steps to prepare,” Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said in a tweet on Tuesday.
Residents warned to ‘limit travel’
“We’re working to ensure we’re ready — and Minnesotans have a part to play, too. Plan ahead, drive safe, and limit travel,” he said.
“Snowplow crews will be out working statewide, but this storm could be a doozy,” the Minnesota Department of Transportation said in a tweet.
Schools across the state also announced closures, with Minneapolis Public Schools…
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