Winter storm – blizzard warnings for 7 states

Including Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois.

Many cities will likely see their biggest snowstorm of the winter season.

Snowfall accumulations today and Tuesday should be from 6-12 inches from Fargo, N.D. through Minneapolis, Minn., through the southern suburbs of Chicago, according to AccuWeather meteorologist Brian Edwards.

By Wednesday, the storm could bring significant snow to Washington D.C. and Baltimore metro areas.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND … MAR 4 2013

.A WINTER STORM WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA THROUGH TONIGHT. STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH WILL DEVELOP THROUGH THE MORNING AND CONTINUE INTO THE AFTERNOON ACROSS WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA. GIVEN THE HEAVY SNOW THAT HAS ALREADY FALLEN AND ADDITIONAL LIGHT TO MODERATE SNOW THROUGH THE DAY…

BLIZZARD CONDITIONS EXPECTED FOR NORTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA TODAY… INCLUDES CROSBY…WILLISTON…WATFORD CITY…BOWBELLS AND STANLEY. VISIBILITIES OF LESS THAN ONE QUARTER MILE EXPECTED. TRAVEL WILL BECOME VERY HAZARDOUS…IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE.

SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF 12 TO 15 INCHES POSSIBLE FROM THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS AND WEST NEAR THE INTERNATIONAL BORDER THROUGH CROSBY AND FORTUNA. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS DECREASE TO 6 TO 9 INCHES FOR WATFORD CITY AND WILLISTON… THROUGH STANLEY… MINOT… HARVEY AND CARRINGTON. 2 TO 5 INCHES EXPECTED FROM BEACH THROUGH KILLDEER…DICKINSON…HAZEN…BISMARCK …STEELE AND LAMOURE… LESSER AMOUNTS SOUTHWEST.

HAZARDOUS TRAVEL EXPECTED ACROSS MOST OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT. THOSE WITH TRAVEL PLANS SHOULD CARRY A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT AND EVEN CONSIDER ALTERING TRAVEL PLANS. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL…AVOID THE USE OF CRUISE CONTROL ON SLICK OR SNOW COVERED ROADS.

NORTHERLY WINDS TO 40 MPH COMBINED WITH HEAVY SNOW THAT HAS ALREADY FALLEN AND CONTINUED SNOW THROUGH THE DAY WILL CREATE VISIBILITIES OF LESS THAN ONE QUARTER MILE.

SNOW ACCUMULATIONS…12 TO 15 INCHES FOR CROSBY THROUGH BOWBELLS…DECREASING TO 6 TO 9 INCHES FOR WILLISTON…WATFORD CITY AND STANLEY.

AccuWeather reports that Starkweather, N.D., and Rocky Boy, Mont., have already picked up 10 inches of snow.

Yesterday, Calgary, Alberta, received about a foot of snow from the storm.

By Wednesday, the storm will head east, spreading heavy snow in the Appalachian mountains of West Virginia, and Virginia, reports Weather Channel meteorologist Jon Erdman, who says the snow will be heavy and wet, which, along with high winds, could lead to power outages.

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/bis/

http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2013/03/04/winter-storm-midwest-midatlantic/1961753/

Thanks to Kenneth Lund for these links