California, Midwest, Plains to see snow
Monday may have marked the first day of spring, but that’s not stopping parts of the country, from California to the plains and the southeast, from experiencing wet and cold weather.
- Winter storm advisories spread across the Plains and the Midwest on Tuesday, with snow accumulations of up to 5 inches and slippery roads expected.
- Mountainous areas of the Golden State are expecting heavy snowfall of up to 5 feet on Tuesday, with winds blowing up to 65 mph.
- Freezing temperatures are expected to spread south through the morning.
- Later this week, warmer temperatures are expected to hit the Mississippi Valley on Wednesday and Thursday, reaching the Atlantic Coast on Friday.
Here’s what you need to know for Tuesday.
Snow and freezing rain spread across the Midwest Plains
A winter weather advisory is in effect in Minnesota and the Dakotas Tuesday afternoon and continues through Wednesday. Ice accumulations are expected and snow could reach up to 5 inches.
Blowing snow could limit driver visibility and impact evening commutes, the National Weather Service warned. Travelers should expect slippery road conditions.
A winter weather advisory is also in effect for Nebraska through Tuesday afternoon, with freezing rain, snow and other mixed precipitation possible.
California could see 5 feet of snow
A winter storm warning is in effect Tuesday for the Sierra Nevada region, primarily at elevations above 4,000 feet. Heavy snow up to 5 feet is possible, with winds blowing up to 60 mph.
Travel to the area could be “impossible”, according to the National Weather Service. Wind chills as low as 20 degrees below zero are expected, which can quickly lead to hypothermia.
And further south, snow is expected in the interior mountains of Santa Barbara County. Up to 2 feet of snow is possible in areas above 6,000 feet, while 10 inches is possible in areas above 3,500 feet.
Winds will also blow up to 105 km/h, with snow and major winds potentially causing “significant travel delays” in the region, according to the weather service. People who need to travel should keep an extra flashlight, food and water in their vehicle
Freezing temperatures hit the south
Much of the Southeast, from Virginia to Mississippi, was covered by a frost warning on Tuesday. Freezing temperatures are expected in the morning at:
- Alabama
- Georgia
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- Caroline from the south
- Tennessee
- Virginia
Frost and freezing conditions can kill crops and damage outdoor plumbing, the weather service warned. Exterior pipes “must be wrapped, drained or left to drain slowly” in cold weather.
Winter storm tracking
National Weather Radar
USA Today
