A winter storm has prompted a slew of warnings across seven states as “perilous” conditions gripped the Northern Plains on Tuesday.
The blustery storm hit the region on Sunday and brought dangerous conditions for holiday travelers as nearly the entire state of Nebraska was under a blizzard warning, as well as parts of South Dakota. There are now five separate weather warnings affecting seven states from the same storm.
The National Weather Service (NWS) updated a map on Tuesday that showed the states most affeccted by the dangerous storm. States under weather warnings are Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.
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A blizzard warning is in place for western Nebraska, southeastern Wyoming, northeastern Colorado, northwestern Kansas and eastern South Dakota. A winter storm warning was in place for parts of Wyoming, Nebraska and South Dakota.
A flood warning was affecting a small pocket of southeastern North Dakota. An ice storm warning was in place for much of southeastern North Dakota and north-central South Dakota. A high wind warning was affecting southeastern Wyoming and northeastern Colorado.
Several NWS offices in the affected areas warned residents against travel because conditions were hazardous.
“Perilous travel conditions may redevelop this afternoon – especially with localized bursts of heavier snow,” NWS Omaha posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday.
No travel advisories were in place across South Dakota, and Interstate 90 closed for a short period because of severe winter weather. The highway reopened at 10 a.m. Central Time on Tuesday, but NWS Rapid City urged motorists to use caution.
“Strong winds and falling snow will continue to create blowing/drifting snow today,” NWS Rapid City posted on X.
High amounts of snow fell throughout the region. Up to 16 inches was expected in Wyoming and Nebraska, with 8 inches was expected in Colorado and Kansas. Wind gusts in Rapid City reached 73 miles per hour on Tuesday, causing blizzard conditions.
Winter weather was so difficult in North Dakota this morning that weather officials warned residents to pack extra food and water in their vehicles, as an ice storm made it “nearly impossible” to travel.
The storm will begin to taper off this evening for western South Dakota and will continue to clear up in a west-to-east line, according to NWS meteorologist Aaron Dye.
However, temperatures will begin to warm up enough in north-central South Dakota to cause a transition from snow to freezing rain.
“That could really get those roads slick up in that area,” Dye told Newsweek. “Everywhere else will see gradual improvements.”
Much of the storm will have moved out of the area by Wednesday morning.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.