Blizzard Anticipated to Slam the US Plains, Prompting Travel Disruptions

Blizzard warnings across the Central Plains are putting Christmas Day travelers at risk of delays and hazardous road conditions. Over 1.1 million people in areas of Nebraska, South Dakota, Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming are under these warnings as of Monday afternoon.

A significant winter storm is forecast to bring heavy snow, freezing rain, and strong winds to parts of the Central Plains on Christmas, leading to blizzard conditions and hazardous travel. Treacherous ice accumulations are expected in the eastern Dakotas and northern Minnesota, according to the National Weather Service. The storm is anticipated to cause widespread travel disruptions and potentially dangerous whiteout conditions due to wind gusts as high as 75 mph mixing with heavy snow in some areas, said CNN meteorologist Robert Shackelford.

The Northern Plains is expected to experience heavy snowfall through Tuesday, with western South Dakota likely to receive an additional 8 to 12 inches. In addition, ice storm warnings are in effect for the eastern parts of the Dakotas and far western Minnesota until Tuesday evening. Shackelford warned that significant icing could lead to power outages and tree damage in affected areas.

These warnings, watches and advisories were in place Monday afternoon.

Omaha, Nebraska's street maintenance workers and snowplows were deployed early to prepare for the holiday winter storm. A blizzard warning was in effect for much of the state, expecting 5 to 11 inches of snow and ice accumulations, along with gusts of up to 40 mph, according to the weather service.

The city of Omaha announced in a Facebook post that a full street maintenance staff will start working at 3:30 a.m. on Christmas morning to plow and spread salt as necessary. Additionally, contractor resources are on call. New maps have also been released to display the areas where snowfall is dissipating.

At 6 a.m., a fleet of 40 snowplows was deployed onto the streets, according to Douglas County engineer Todd Pfitzer in Omaha. "You just have to be prepared," Pfitzer stated. "If you're not and it gets ahead of you, it can become a real problem."

Blizzard warnings were also issued for much of South Dakota on Monday afternoon. The weather service stated that parts of the state could see up to 11 inches of snow, making travel very difficult to nearly impossible.

Blizzard warnings were in effect until Wednesday morning for areas in east central and northeast Colorado, parts of southeastern Wyoming, and northwest Kansas.

Residents in these areas were advised by the weather service to avoid traveling, but to bring survival kits and stay in their vehicles if they must travel and become stranded.

Continuing snow accumulation and high winds are rapidly deteriorating driving conditions across the state, particularly in central and north central Nebraska. The Nebraska State Department of Transportation strongly encourages travelers to check https://511.nebraska.gov before embarking on their journey," the department stated on Monday morning. The Nebraska State Patrol advised against travel.

Blizzard conditions led to icy roads and poor visibility in Nebraska, resulting in vehicle collisions and cars sliding off the roads. Eastbound I-80 was closed at York on Monday afternoon due to tractor-trailers being stuck on the road, but has since reopened, according to the Nebraska State Patrol.

CNN Weather

The South Dakota Highway Patrol dealt with multiple accidents in Watertown caused by icy roads, and cautioned drivers that conditions will continue to worsen throughout the day due to ice-covered roads and strong winds. The winter storm system is expected to impact flights, with Eppley Airfield in Omaha and Sioux Falls Regional Airport advising travelers to check the status of their flights and communicate with airlines about potential delays or cancellations.

The storm is expected to gradually weaken by Tuesday night as it moves through the Central Plains. However, there is a likelihood of a wintry mix continuing into Wednesday in parts of the northern Plains and Upper Midwest, according to CNN's Shackelford.

The Weather Prediction Center has issued a marginal risk for excessive rainfall in cities such as Washington, DC, New York and Philadelphia for Wednesday as the storm makes its slow move into the Northeast.