Strong storm should bring snow, wintry mix to Midwest

Long range computer projections are consistently showing a major winter storm that will cross much of Kansas and Nebraska early next week.

The weather service is warning that the snow coupled with the storm’s high winds could bring down tree branches and power lines.

Snow will then overspread parts of Nevada, Utah and Colorado.

People already are calling it the “Ground Hog Day blizzard“, but forecasts are calling for the storm to hit a 1,600-mile stretch from Arizona to MI, starting on Sunday night.

Combined with strong winds, blowing and drifting snow and possible whiteout conditions are a threat with this storm. The heaviest potential snowfall could happen Tuesday afternoon into Tuesday evening.

After an unusually warm past few days, light rain is a possibility on Saturday night and snow is possible on Tuesday night.

For that reason, my snowfall probability shows the potential of seeing zero inches of snow to 8. Carson City is expected to have rising snow levels, though accumulation is unknown.

The combination could cause hard travel conditions throughout the state.

Blizzard Watches have been issued for far southeast South Dakota, parts of southwest Minnesota, eastern Nebraska and much of Iowa. It’s expected to arrive Tuesday and last into Wednesday.

Finally, here is where the heavy snow zone is most likely to set up. Northeast wind 9 to 13 miles per hour becoming north northwest in the afternoon.

It appears there is going to be snow for Groundhog Day this year. Along the I-25 corridor and out across the high Plains, around a foot of snow will fall from this storm.

As always, check back with us at weather.com for the latest forecasts as new information comes in.