8 U.S. States Brace for Up to 7 Inches of Snow Amid Winter Storm Warnings

It's been a hard winter already for much of the United States, as strong winter weather has brought heavy snow, bitterly cold temperatures, and strong winds to much of the country over the past several weeks. Now, more winter weather is impacting parts of Alaska, the Midwest, and the Northeast this weekend.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a series of winter storm warnings and advisories for eight states throughout the country, as inclement weather could make travel hazardous throughout the weekend.

Alaska

It may not be all that surprising that the northernmost state in the United States has the most severe winter weather outlook this weekend, but it's worth mentioning nonetheless for the particularly eye-popping outlook.

In its winter storm warning, the NWS warned of "heavy" snowfall in parts of Alaska with snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches throughout the storm, while some areas, like Thompson Pass near Ernestine, could receive substantially more snow.

The city of Seward – a gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park – is expected to receive between 6 and 12 inches with wind gusts reaching as high as 40 miles per hour. The NWS warns that travel in the area could be "very difficult."

So if you were planning a winter hike or trek in the park this weekend, it would be best to reconsider.

Wisconsin

In the continental United States, Wisconsin is expected to be hit the hardest by the incoming winter weather as the NWS has issued a winter storm warning for parts of the state into early Sunday morning.

Door County is under a winter storm warning as four to seven inches of snow are expected, while Southern and Northern Marinette County, along with Brown, Kewaunee, Calumet, and Manitowoc counties, are under advisories as two to four inches of snow are expected.

The NWS warns that travel in the region could be "very difficult" as a result of the snow accumulation, which could pose a problem for anyone traveling from Wisconsin to Chicago for Saturday evening's NFL Playoff game between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers.

States Under Winter Weather Advisories

While Alaska and Wisconsin are the only states under true winter storm warnings from the NWS, six other states are bracing for inclement weather this weekend.

• Maine: Northern and central Maine are projected to receive 4 to 7 inches of snow from early Sunday into Monday. Coastal areas will experience a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain with a light glaze of ice. This is expected to create hazardous road conditions.
• Massachusetts: Western Massachusetts, including the Berkshires and northern Worcester Hills, is at risk for freezing rain on Saturday evening into Sunday with up to two-tenths of an inch of ice in higher elevations. Obviously, this could create dangerous travel conditions. This could potentially pose problems for those traveling for Sunday night's NFL playoff game between the Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots in Foxborough.
• Michigan: The Upper Peninsula is expected to receive 3 to 6 inches of snow throughout the weekend, with heavier accumulation in Marquette and Baraga Counties. Northern Lower Michigan is expected to see similar totals, while west-central Michigan, including Muskegon and Ludington, can expect 3 to 5 inches. The NWS warns that this could cause hazardous travel.
• New Hampshire: Central and southern New Hampshire are expected to see some winter weather on Saturday night into Sunday, including light snow, sleet, and up to one-tenth of an inch of ice.
• New York: Parts of Herkimer, Hamilton, Saratoga, and Warren counties in New York can expect up to two inches of snow and sleet and around two-tenths of an inch of ice, creating hazardous road conditions.
• Vermont: Parts of Bennington, Windham, Rutland, and Windsor counties are expected to see a wintry mix of freezing rain and light snow overnight into Sunday morning, creating dangerous travel conditions and stressing trees and power lines.

While a winter weather advisory indicates less extreme conditions than a winter storm warning, it's still important to take these advisories seriously. These conditions can make travel quite difficult, especially overnight and early morning, and during the weekend, when the roads are often not cleared or winterized with the same urgency.

Travel Impacts

It should go without saying that these conditions can cause treacherous travel conditions, so it's important to factor them into your plans. The NWS advises against traveling in these conditions, but it does offer some guidance for those who must drive anyway.

"If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1," the NWS warns.

There's also a chance that these conditions could impact flights across the country, so it's important to stay updated on the latest flight information at your local airport or with your airline.