Winter Storm Alerts For 8 States As Heavy Snow To Hit

Winter weather alerts are in place for parts of eight states as a "deep storm" over the Mississippi and Ohio is predicted to produce heavy snow over the Great Lakes before moving into New England.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued warnings for Alaska, Michigan and Wisconsin. Winter storm watches are also in place for Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont.

In its latest forecast, the NWS said that the late-season storm system "will produce a large, long-duration winter storm, producing gusty winds and late-season heavy snow across portions of the Great Lakes and the northeast from Tuesday into Friday."

Heavy snow is set to develop over Wisconsin by Tuesday evening and will expand to Michigan's peninsula overnight, before ending on Thursday.

In eastern Wisconsin, snow accumulations of up to a foot are possible through Wednesday afternoon, with up to 14 inches possible in the far northeast of the state. Winds as high as 45 mph could cause areas of blowing and drifting snow.

The NWS warned that the bad weather could bring down tree branches and power lines in the region, causing "sporadic" power outages. The heaviest snow, of an inch an hour or more, is expected to occur on Tuesday evening.

In Michigan's northeastern peninsula, up to 18 inches of snow and winds of 50 mph are predicted through Thursday morning, with the strongest winds near the shores on Wednesday. In the higher terrains of Marquette County, up to 32 inches of snow is set to accumulate.

The Great Lakes region has already had several bouts of heavy snow throughout the winter, with as much as three feet of snow falling during one storm period in January.

By Thursday, the latest storm—which has sparked tornado watches in the central eastern Midwest—is expected to move over southern New England, producing snow and sleet over the northeast from Wednesday into Friday.

"Significant snow accumulations are likely over Upstate New York and Northern New England," the NWS said. "The wet snow and high snow load may also damage trees and impact infrastructure."

Accumulations of heavy, wet snow in excess of 10 inches is forecast for parts of southern Maine from Wednesday evening, along with winds reaching 55 mph. Sleet of more than a quarter of an inch is also possible.

In New Hampshire, snow accumulations in excess of six inches and sleet of more than three-quarters of an inch is anticipated, along with winds as high as 50 mph.

In the northern Berkshires of Massachusetts, snow and sleet could reach above seven inches, with up to a tenth of an inch of ice possible and winds of up to 60 mph.

Up to 18 inches of snow and ice of a light glaze is expected in southern Vermont into northern New York, where winds could gust as high as 50 mph.

The storm comes just two weeks after New England faced several rounds of snow from two late winter fronts, after a northeasterly storm brought snow showers to the region the week prior.