Winter Weather Advisory for 13 States Amid Snow, Hypothermia Risk

The Federal National Weather Service (NWS) has imposed ‘Winter Weather Advisory’ warnings for 13 states as a cold snap continues on Saturday, with up to 10 inches of snow expected for some areas, making driving very difficult and creating a danger of frostbite and hypothermia.

The winter weather advisory warnings are in place across four broad areas, the first consisting of northern Washington state, along with western parts of Montana and northern Idaho. Further east, warnings are in place for the eastern half of North Dakota, stretching at some points into South Dakota and western Minnesota.

Notices have also been applied to a slither of land on both sides of the Wisconsin/Michigan border around the town of Ironwood. The final collection of warnings extends from parts of southern Wyoming to northern Texas, passing over swaths of Colorado and small areas of Oklahoma and New Mexico.

For the area around Cheyenne, Wyoming, the NWS predicts “additional snow accumulations of 5 to 10 inches expected, with isolated totals up to a foot possible, mainly for the Sierra Madres.”

As a result: “Mountain travel could become dangerous or impossible due to icy, snow-packed roads and low visibilities in falling snow. Hikers and snowmobilers may easily become disoriented. Remember, frostbite and hypothermia can develop quickly.”

In Washington’s Cascade mountains and nearby valleys, snow accumulations of between 4 and 10 inches are expected above 2,500 feet, making travel difficult.

Pueblo, Colorado, is forecast to see between 5 and 8 inches of snow on the ground in places, with the NWS saying that “areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility” and urging residents to “slow down and use caution while traveling.”

Snow accumulations are not expected to exceed 3 inches in Aberdeen, South Dakota, though travelers are instructed to “plan on slippery road conditions” where “patchy blowing snow can significantly reduce visibility.”

In Missoula, Montana, snow is expected to begin falling from 5 p.m. on Saturday and continue into Sunday, with “winds gusting as high as 40 mph over Marias Pass.”

Separately, Winter Storm Warnings are in place for a number of areas, including Spokane, Washington, where “total snow accumulations at Stevens Pass will range from 10 to 20 inches.”

For this area, the NWS recommends that “if you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.”

Fairbanks in Alaska also has a winter storm warning in place, with the NWS forecasting winds of 40 miles per hour and “visibility one quarter mile or less at times.”

The NWS added: “Strong north winds will cause snow squalls with periods of very low visibility through Saturday. The winds combined with temperatures in the teens will cause freezing spray to accumulate into a light glaze at Wales through Saturday. Winds are expected to decrease Saturday afternoon and blowing snow and freezing spray will diminish then.”

Separately, El Niño, a climate pattern that occurs in the Pacific Ocean once every two to seven years, is expected to hit the U.S. this winter, resulting in above-average precipitation for states including California, Nevada, Georgia, Florida and Louisiana.