Winter Storm Warnings Issued as 36 Inches of Snow, 60 mph Winds Approach

The official start of spring happens on March 20, but it sure doesn't feel like spring throughout much of the United States. Now, eight U.S. states are bracing for strong winter storms expected to bring 36 inches of snow to the region.

A strong storm is heading to the Midwest region, and it's bringing blizzard conditions to the Great Lakes. Winter storm warnings and advisories have already been issued for this storm, which arrives Sunday, March 15, and into early next week.

Midwest Bracing for 36 Inches of Snow in 8 States With Winter Storm Warnings

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a series of new winter storm warnings and watches, as a new round of heavy snowfall makes its way to the Midwest. According to research from the NWS, residents in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska are all in line for this storm, with Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula bracing for the highest snow totals at 36 inches.

"Moderate to heavy snow is spreading across the Great Lakes as an intense low pressure system moves through the Upper Midwest," the NWS said. "Snowfall totals of 6 to 12+ inches along with the strong and very gusty winds may lead to poor visibility and blowing snow at times."

The weather experts add, "Mixed rain and snow along with strong and very gusty winds will quickly sweep across the lower Great Lakes through tonight with moderate snowfall possible across upstate New York as this clipper-like system moves through."

In more information, the weather experts at AccuWeather also warn of a Midwest blizzard bringing heavy snow. "An all-out blizzard is possible across parts of Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, northern Illinois and southeastern Minnesota," they said in a statement provided to Men's Journal. "From near Minneapolis to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, 1 to 3 feet of snow is forecast, with enough snow to shovel and plow from the Dakotas to Lower Michigan. Southern Michigan and the Chicago area may have rain and a wintry mix changing to snow."

They warn that is storm has the "potential to become a bomb cyclone," making travel dangerous on Monday, March 16, throughout the northern portions of the Mississippi Valley and the Great Lakes region. Also, according to the report, even in areas not getting the 3 feet of snow, expect there to be enough snow to shovel and plow extending from North and South Dakota to northern Michigan

The winter storm warnings are expected to run through Monday. So, even though spring officially starts on Friday, March 20, it still feels like winter throughout much of the country.