A massive winter storm will move across the country this week, affecting millions of residents across 22 states.
The National Weather Service has issued winter weather alerts ahead of winter storm Olive, which is forecast to bring a mix of heavy snow, rain, and strong winds to a large portion of the U.S. A blizzard warning has been issued for six states.
“A massive winter storm will impact a large portion of the U.S. the next few days. Hazards will include widespread heavy snow, blizzard conditions, a zone of sleet and freezing rain, high winds, severe thunderstorms and record low/high temperatures,” the National Weather Service (NWS) tweeted.
The storm will begin in the West and stretch across the upper portions of the country and into the Northeast.
“Heavy snow to low elevations in the West will extend across the Intermountain West to the Great Lakes. Strong winds will extend across the West and Southwest with critical fire weather threats in the South High Plains,” the NWS said.
States will see wind gusts from 50-60 mph. Wind speeds could reach up to 80 mph, according to the NWS.
States that are expected to see at least a foot of snow are South Dakota, Wisconsin, northern Michigan, and Minnesota, according to the Weather Channel.
Miles Langfield, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Fort Worth, told The Dallas Express that the winter storm should stay in the upper U.S. and miss Texas.
“All of the winter weather should remain well north of here up in the northern states such as Minnesota, South Dakota, and Nebraska,” said Langfeld.
“The most that we’re going to get is a slight cooldown come Thursday,” Langfeld added.
Winter storm Olive is expected to continue through Thursday.