Winter weather alerts will affect 18 million people in the West and Midwest.

Winter weather warnings now cover over 18 million residents in the Western and Midwestern United States as forecasts predict heavy snowfall and frigid winds. A potent storm system is currently dropping significant snow across the Northern Rockies, where mountain peaks could accumulate over a foot by Saturday, according to CBS Meteorologist Andrew Kozak.

As the storm shifts eastward, snow is expected to spread across the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest, from South Dakota to northwest Illinois, with typical accumulations of 4 to 6 inches and locally higher amounts. In Chicago, a winter weather advisory is active, forecasting 2 to 5 inches of snow, which may create hazardous driving and walking conditions by morning, CBS Chicago reported.

Extremely cold temperatures will follow, with subzero readings possible in the Dakotas and Minnesota by late Sunday into Monday. Another snow system is anticipated to move through metro and southern areas of Minnesota starting Saturday afternoon, accompanied by bitter cold, CBS Minnesota noted.

The National Weather Service expects moderate to heavy snow over sections of the Upper and Middle Mississippi Valley on Saturday night. Winter storm warnings and advisories remain in place in Colorado, particularly impacting mountainous regions with heavy snowfall, CBS Colorado reported.

Meanwhile, the Pacific Northwest will experience a series of incoming Pacific weather systems late Sunday into Monday, bringing heavy rain across western Washington and Oregon. Saturated soil could result in flash flooding, and flood watches have already been issued. The heavy rain threat is expected to persist over the next week to ten days.

Author: Benjamin Carter