New winter storm heads for Midwest, Northeast with 40 million people on alert

More than 40 million people are on alert as the next winter storm is forecast to bring snow, strong winds and rain from the Dakotas through the Great Lakes and into northern New England over the coming days.

As of Sunday morning, Blizzard Warnings were in effect from Grand Forks and Fargo in North Dakota down to Rochester, Minnesota, and Mason City, Iowa, for snowfall between 3 and 8 inches and winds gusting as high as 45 mph, creating whiteout conditions and near-zero visibility through Monday morning.

Blizzard Warnings are also in effect for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula where snowfall of between 9 inches and 2 feet is expected, along with wind gusts up to 60 mph.

From eastern Minnesota to northern Michigan — including Minneapolis, Green Bay and Sault Ste. Marie — Winter Storm Warnings are in place due to expected heavy snow and gusty winds from Sunday into Monday.

In the Northeast, Winter Weather Advisories are in effect from Scranton, Pennsylvania, up to Burlington, Vermont, and Portland, Maine, for freezing rain from Sunday through Monday.

A Flood Watch has also been issued for Buffalo and Jamestown, New York, for up to 1.5 inches of rainfall from Sunday afternoon into Monday afternoon.

High wind alerts are also in effect for Detroit and Cleveland for gusts of up to 60 mph on Sunday night and through into early Tuesday morning.

The latest winter storm is expected to move into the Midwest on Sunday afternoon. Snow had already begun to fall in Sioux Falls and Fargo as of early on Sunday.

Heavy snow is forecast to reach Minneapolis and Mason City, Iowa, by around 12 p.m. CT on Sunday. Marquette, Michigan, and Green Bay, Wisconsin, are expected to see a wintry mix on Sunday afternoon, with heavy rain persisting in southern Michigan — including in Grand Rapids and Detroit.

By early Sunday evening, Minneapolis and Marquette are expected to see heavy snow and gusty winds. Visibility will be reduced in these areas, as well as on parts of I-45 and I-90. Heavy rain and gusty winds are forecast to reach Buffalo, New York, by Sunday evening.

Parts of the I-95 corridor from Philadelphia to Boston could see a brief wintry mix or freezing rain Sunday night by around 5 p.m., which is expected to turn to rain as warmer air moves in.

Snow and gusty winds are expected to continue in Michigan through to around 7 a.m. ET on Monday, after which warmer air moving north across the Northeast is forecast to produce rain.

Most of the wintery precipitation in the Northeast is expected to be confined to higher elevations of northern New England and most of Maine. Freezing rain is forecast as likely in northern New England, especially in higher elevations.

The storm system is expected to have largely cleared by Monday night, though lake-effect snow is then forecast to follow. This is expected to be normal lake-effect snow for the eastern Great Lakes and interior Northeast, and will continue into Tuesday and possibly Wednesday.

The heaviest snow totals are forecast in the Midwest. Minneapolis and Green Bay could see between 5 to 8 inches of snow and a light glaze of ice.

Marquette and most of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan could see between 1 to 2 feet of snow. Wind gusts there could reach up to 60 mph during and just after the event, potentially creating blowing snow after the snow has ended.

The interior Northeast along the Great Lakes and up to northern New England is expected to see lighter snow and a wintry mix with this event. Parts of northern New England could see up to a quarter of an inch of ice on Monday.