Winter weather-related alerts from the National Weather Service (NWS) span swathes of the U.S. as of early Friday, with the agency expecting up to 3 feet of snow to fall in parts of the country.
Winter storm warnings, issued by the NWS when “a significant combination of hazardous winter weather is occurring or imminent” have been issued for parts of California, Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Alaska, and Connecticut.
Mono County in California could see additional snow accumulations of 1 to 3 feet in areas above 8,000 feet, with 4 to 12 inches below 8,000 feet and along US-395, according to the agency.
Communities in the Greater Lake Tahoe Area could receive 8 to 16 inches—with 1 to 3 feet at locations above 7,000 feet, the NWS said in winter storm warnings that are in force until 4 p.m. Friday afternoon as of reporting.
“Travel could be very difficult to impossible. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning commute,” the NWS said in its warning for these areas. “Very strong winds could cause extensive damage to trees and power lines,” it added.
In Idaho, Big Hole Mountains and Bear River Range, Big Lost Highlands/Copper Basin, Sawtooth/Stanley Basin, and the Sun Valley region, as well as the Centennial Mountains have winter storm warnings in place until 5 a.m. MST Saturday, with up to 18 inches of snow forecast in parts.
Wyoming’s Sierra Madre Range, as well as Colorado’s Elkhead and Park Mountains, could see up to 18 inches of heavy snow, according to the NWS.
The agency also said that portions of southern Connecticut, northeast New Jersey, and southeast New York are expected to see up to 9 inches of snow. An alert is in effect from 4 p.m. Friday afternoon to 1 p.m. EST Saturday.
Northern Wayne, Pike, and Southern Wayne Counties in Pennsylvania could also see up to 9 inches of snow, according to the agency.
Winter weather advisories—which are less severe than winter storm warnings—are also in effect for parts of Washington, Oregon, Montana, Utah, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and Massachusetts.
“The upper Midwest will see a swathe of snow and ice blossoming this morning ahead of a clipper system that is pushing against a high pressure system in eastern Canada feeding the cold air,” the NWS Weather Prediction Center said in a Friday morning forecast discussion. A clipper system refers to a fast-moving storm that brings gusty wind and snow.
“Light to moderate snowfall is expected across the upper Great Lakes from this system, while areas from lower Michigan to Pennsylvania can expect to receive up to a quarter of an inch of freezing rain today into tonight with locally higher amounts. This includes major urban areas of Baltimore and Philadelphia,” it said.
“For areas farther north from upstate New York to the Tri-State area including New York City and Long Island, 4 to 8 inches of snowfall is forecast for late Friday into Friday night,” it added. “Road conditions will be treacherous for those traveling back from the holiday.”
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