Dangerous Winter Journey: Blizzard and Icy Deluge Grip Central United States

A powerful winter storm is moving across the Plains and upper Midwest, bringing heavy snow, freezing rain, and strong winds that will create hazardous travel conditions during the upcoming holiday week.

The storm is expected to produce frequent wind gusts reaching 50 to 60 mph, with isolated gusts up to 75 mph on Tuesday. These strong winds have the potential to knock down trees and power lines, and could also result in blizzard conditions that make travel extremely challenging, according to the National Weather Service.

Blizzard warnings have been issued for parts of Nebraska, South Dakota, Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming on Tuesday. Blizzards are characterized by blowing snow and sustained strong winds that reduce visibility to a quarter-mile or less for at least three hours.

The weather service has warned of widespread travel disruptions in the region and advised residents to avoid travel if possible. Those who must travel are urged to bring survival kits and to stay in their vehicles in case they become stranded.

The airport in Hong Kong experienced heavy rain on Tuesday morning, July 24, 2012, with planes parked on the tarmac. The high winds from Typhoon Vicente grounded the planes at the financial capital's international airport, causing disruptions for passengers. According to reports, the adverse weather conditions were expected to last for several hours. (AP Photo/ Ng Han Guan)

Ng Han Guan/AP

The weather most likely to ruin your flight plans

South Dakota, Nebraska, and Wyoming may see an extra six inches or more of snow on Tuesday, with some areas potentially receiving over a foot over two days. In certain areas, the primary concern switched from snow to ice on Tuesday.

Scattered power outages and dangerously icy roads and sidewalks are expected in parts of the northern Plains and upper Midwest on Tuesday due to a mix of sleet and freezing rain. Ice storm warnings are in effect for portions of the Dakotas and Minnesota through Tuesday evening. The Department of Transportation in North Dakota has advised residents in 14 counties to avoid all travel on Tuesday due to poor winter road conditions. Additionally, around 50 miles of westbound lanes on Interstate 94 in the state were closed on Tuesday morning due to multiple traffic incidents.

Accidents and road closures began on Christmas Day

The central US will see the storm start to calm down on Tuesday night and lose much of its strength by early Wednesday. There may still be a few snow showers or a mix of rain and wet snow lingering for the Plains, but overall, the widespread and disruptive weather will come to an end by midweek.

Severe weather hit parts of the central US on Monday, bringing hazardous combination of snow, ice, and gusty winds. In Nebraska, car accidents and road closures were reported as tractor-trailers jackknifed and got stranded on eastbound Interstate 80 near York, according to the Nebraska State Patrol.

Nebraska first responders work along a slick I-80 on Monday between Grand Island and Lincoln.

The Dakotas experienced heavy snowfall, leading to the closure of I-90 in both directions from Monday night through Tuesday morning for a stretch of over 200 miles between Mitchell and Wall, according to the South Dakota Department of Transportation.

The department announced the closure of the eastbound lanes between Wall and Rapid City, a stretch of about 50 miles. Meanwhile, the westbound lanes were anticipated to stay open on Tuesday, unless there were changes in weather and road conditions.

The department also advised motorists against using secondary highways to bypass the closures on the Interstate. They emphasized that reduced visibilities and blizzard-like conditions during the storm system would make travel extremely hazardous.

The South Dakota Highway Patrol reported multiple accidents in Watertown due to icy and snowy road conditions.

Residents were urged by the South Dakota Highway Patrol to drive at a slower speed, avoid using cruise control, and always wear seatbelts. They also reminded drivers to give snow plows ample space to operate.

CNN Meteorologist Robert Shackelford and CNNs Alaa Elassar, Andy Rose and Dave Alsup contributed to this report.