Winter is coming: First blizzard of the season set to drop snow across north-central US
Doyle Rice- The first major snowstorm of the season is forecast to hit the north-central U.S., including the Dakotas and northern Minnesota
- Travel will be very difficult to impossible across the region, the Weather Service warned.
- On the southern side of the storm, there will be a threat for severe thunderstorms across portions of the Midwest.
Winter is coming.
The first blizzard of the 2022-23 winter season is forecast to paste portions of the north-central U.S. with more than a foot of heavy snow, howling winds and whiteout conditions by Thursday, forecasters warned Wednesday.
Parts of North and South Dakota as well as portions of Montana, Minnesota and Nebraska were in the path of the storm.
"This will be the first major snowstorm of the season for the northern Plains and the combination of heavy snow, powerful winds and low visibility will result in hazardous travel," AccuWeather senior meteorologist Brian Wimer said.
The National Weather Service also warned that "significant snowfall accumulations will be possible in some areas, and strong gusty winds combined with heavy snow could produce blizzard conditions across the Dakotas."
Blizzard conditions possible in North Dakota, South Dakota
Travel will be difficult to impossible across the region, the Weather Service warned. "Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you," the Weather Service in Bismarck, North Dakota, said. "Notify a friend or family member of your travel plans. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle."
AccuWeather said cities such as Fargo and Bismarck, North Dakota, and Rapid City, South Dakota, could experience blizzard conditions as winds whip across the region Thursday night into Friday with blowing and drifting snow.
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"Any unnecessary travel is not advised in this region, especially later Thursday afternoon through Friday morning," AccuWeather senior meteorologist Brett Anderson said.
What is a blizzard?
A blizzard has a specific definition, according to the National Weather Service: It means that the following conditions are expected to prevail for a period of three hours or longer:
- Sustained wind or frequent gusts to 35 mph or greater.
- Considerable falling and/or blowing snow that reduces visibility frequently to less than a quarter mile.
According to the American Meteorological Society, in popular usage in the United States and in England the term is often used for any heavy snowstorm accompanied by strong winds.
Severe storms, tornadoes possible, too
On the southern side of the storm, as it intensifies Thursday, there will be a threat for severe thunderstorms across portions of the Midwest, AccuWeather said. The Storm Prediction Center said damaging winds should be the main threat, but a brief tornado could develop.
Same storm battered California earlier this week
This is the same storm that brought rain, mountain snow and cold air to California through Wednesday morning, forecasters said. The storm caused flooding across California, leaving one person dead and two missing after they were swept away in a canal.
Contributing: The Associated Press