Winter weather-related warnings had been issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) for 23 states on Monday morning, with snow and ice expected across parts of the country.

Why It Matters

Freezing temperatures may present health risks, especially for vulnerable groups such as infants and older adults. Snow can disrupt travel and lead to hazardous driving conditions. Winter storms can also trigger power outages.

What To Know

The NWS had winter storm warnings, meaning “a significant combination of hazardous winter weather is occurring or imminent,” in place for Virginia and West Virginia.

Winter storm watches had been issued in Indiana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Kansas and Missouri, as well as parts of Colorado, Iowa, and Illinois.

The NWS issues winter storm watches “when there is the potential for significant and hazardous winter weather within 48 hours.”

Cold weather advisories—signaling particularly cold wind chills or temperatures—were in place in California, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

Winter weather advisories were in place in Ohio and New York. These are issued “for any amount of freezing rain, or when 2 to 4 inches of snow (alone or in combination with sleet and freezing rain), is expected to cause a significant inconvenience, but not serious enough to warrant a warning.”

Extreme cold warnings had also been issued for northerly parts of Montana and North Dakota, with the NWS warning that “dangerously cold” wind chills could result in frostbite on exposed skin.

While any snowfall forecasts varied from state to state, the NWS said up to 10 inches of accumulation would be possible in isolated amounts in Northern Houghton County, Michigan.

The service warned travel could be very difficult, and blowing snow could reduce visibility “significantly.”

What People Are Saying

NWS Blacksburg, Virginia, said on X, formerly Twitter, Saturday: “A series of storm systems will impact the region into next week. They will come in the form of measurable wintry mixes (Monday Night through Tuesday Night) and locally heavy, potentially flooding, rainfall (Tuesday Night through Wednesday Night).”

NWS Great Falls, Montana, said on X, Sunday: “Arctic air will impact all of Montana Monday through Tuesday with another push of arctic air later this week. Low temperatures Monday night/Tuesday morning will be the coldest temperatures of the year across much of Montana. Wind chills will be as low as -30 to -50 [degrees Fahrenheit].”

What Happens Next

At the time of writing, the latest winter weather advisories were in place until 7 p.m. Monday.

The latest winter storm warning was in effect until Wednesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the latest winter storm watches were in effect through Wednesday, and the latest cold weather advisory was in place until Thursday afternoon.

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