An ongoing powerful winter storm will sweep from the Rockies into the Midwest and Great Lakes this weekend, bringing a widespread mix of heavy snow, gusty winds, and hazardous travel conditions. The system will first develop across the northern Rockies and High Plains late Friday. Snow totals got up to 8 inches in Montana. 

North Side

The system is now on the move headed east.  As colder air wraps around the strengthening low-pressure center, bands of moderate to heavy snow are expected to form across states such as Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The forecast indicates that many areas in this corridor could receive six to twelve inches of snow, with localized totals exceeding a foot where the storm’s heaviest bands set up. Strong winds may accompany the snow, leading to blowing and drifting that sharply reduces visibility and creates periods of near-whiteout conditions on open roadways. 

By Saturday night, the storm’s center is expected to track through the Great Lakes region, continuing to spread snow into Michigan, northern Indiana, and parts of Ohio while producing lake-enhanced snowfall downwind of the Great Lakes. These lake-effect bands may intensify rapidly, generating sudden bursts of heavy snow and creating unpredictable travel hazards. On Sunday, as the storm pushes eastward, lingering snow and mixed precipitation may affect parts of the Northeast and Appalachians, although areas nearer the coast may see more rain than snow. 

This system will also bring the coldest air of the season so far, as temperatures will struggle to warm above freezing for some throughout the weekend. Overnight lows could fall as low as the single digits in some places by Monday morning.

Snowfall totals look impressive, with a wide area picking up more than six inches of snow. The questions remain farther south, where rain is expected to mix in around southern Illinois and into the Midwest.

Make sure to prepare for difficult travel conditions and consider delaying nonessential trips, especially during the height of the storm on Saturday and Saturday night. Those who must travel should plan for extended travel times, carry winter emergency supplies, and monitor updates. This storm’s combination of heavy snow, strong winds, and varying precipitation types makes it one of the more impactful winter systems so far this season, and staying informed will be key to navigating its effects safely. 

South Side

Farther south and east, where surface temperatures hover closer to freezing, the storm may produce a wintry mix of sleet or freezing rain before shifting to snow as colder air filters in. This transition zone could see rapidly changing road conditions, with slick surfaces forming even before significant snow arrives. The clash between the two air masses will lead to strong storms.

The is the possibility of severe weather on Saturday, particularly across East Texas and into northern Louisiana in the afternoon hours. The Storm Prediction Center is highlighting an area from Shreveport to Houston to kick off the weekend with the best bet right now for severe storms. This comes just days after two tornadoes touched down near Houston.

We'll continue to update this developing story over the following days on WeatherNation!