Winds are expected to be able to drag up to 65 and 75 mph on the plains, combining with snow to create snowstorm conditions for nearly 2 million people in the West Midwest.
“Strong winds will introduce more seasonal conditions with temperatures generally from the 30s to 40s low on Thursday,” CNN meteorologist Taylor Ward said.
As the storm grows toward the Midwest, the cold air behind the system will be greeted by enough moisture to trigger persistent snowfall, rapid winds, and periods of snowstorm conditions in parts of Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin. and the East Dakotas.
“The trip may be impossible due to winds and zero visibility with snowstorm conditions,” warns CNN meteorologist Chad Myers.
The system is in no hurry to move around the region, however, as the impacts could last until Friday for millions of people across the Great Lakes.
Prolonged snowfall, accompanied by periods of heavy lake-effect snow on the southern shore of Lake Superior, will result in widespread coverage of 3 to 6 inches of snow in the Western Upper Midwest, with maximums possible between 6 and 10. inches in Minnesota and northern Wisconsin.
As the system moves eastward Thursday night through Friday, periods of snow, rain and a winter mix will affect parts of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.
Rain and snow arrive in the northeast on Friday night
A low-pressure secondary system will form along the cold front as the system reaches the east coast from Friday night to Saturday morning.
While it promises to start a humid weekend in the northeast, most of the area will see rain and no snow, thanks to the relatively mild January temperatures.
Places like New York City and Boston will be between half and 40 years old on Saturday, with half an inch to an inch of rain, unlike the several inches of snow they would see if temperatures were colder.
Friday night and Saturday snowfall will be limited to northern New York and northern New England. For the most part, even in those locations they are only expected to see 2 to 5 inches, although some of the higher and preferred elevation areas could see more than half a foot of snow.
Generating strong storm winds has been the difference in air pressure between a strong high pressure area in the southwest and the minimum inlet from the northwest.