High Winds & Heavy Snow Batter The Northern U.S.

A storm system tracking across the Northern U.S. will usher in snowy and blustery weather for the end of the week.

The current setup allows a potent clipper system to track along the jet stream from Washington state through the Northeast over the next couple of days bringing dangerous winds, heavy snow, and in some cases, blizzard conditions.

The National Weather Service has issued Winter Weather Advisories, Winter Storm Warnings & Blizzard Warnings for portions of the Cascades, northern Rockies, and Upper Midwest.

Blizzard conditions are already underway in mountainous areas of Washington State this morning where gusts of 50 to 60 mph and several inches of snow will make travel extremely difficult. The northern Rockies are also seeing similar conditions today, though their wind gusts could reach 70 to even 90 mph in local areas over western Montana. Over the course of the next couple of days, several feet of snow will be measured in the higher elevations across the Northwest, thanks to lingering moisture. Even lower elevation areas of central Montana could see close to a foot of snow.

This activity will shift eastward toward the Upper Midwest where 6 to 12 inches is forecast tonight and Friday from northern Minnesota through the upper Peninsula of Michigan. Northern New York and Northern New England will receive similar amounts in higher elevation areas but a general 2 to 5 inch amounts are expected there Friday into the weekend.

Aside from the snow, nearly all of the northern U.S. will be impacted by high winds over the next few days. Wind Advisories, High Wind Watches & High Wind Warnings are in effect from the Northwest and Rockies to the Lower Great Lakes and Central Appalachia. A general 25 to 45 mph sustained wind is expected over this area with wind gusts 50 to 60 mph, although some areas may receive gusts closer to 70 to 80 mph over the Northern Plains today and Friday. Winds of this magnitude will surely bring downed trees and power outages.

Winds and snow should diminish on Saturday as the weather system exits northern New England during the evening hours.

The best way to remain safe is to stay prepared and informed about your local weather. Have a severe weather kit packed with a battery-operated radio, water, and non-perishable food items should you be without power for long periods of time. Also, check the WeatherBug app frequently for any updates on today's weather.