Winter Storm Rattles Northern U.S. to Start the Week

A potent low pressure system will continue to track along the Canada-U.S. border bringing snow to a large swath of the northern U.S.

One major system is currently centered over North Dakota and is responsible for producing several inches of snow over parts of northern Montana and Minnesota, thanks to a broad area of moisture and upper-level energy. Over the next 24 hours, the low will follow the jet stream toward the Great Lakes and merge with another system developing out of Texas. 

The National Weather Service currently has Winter Weather Advisories and Winter Storm Warnings in effect from southwestern Montana to far northern Minnesota and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It's here where you can find additional snow accumulation of 1 to 4 inches. 

As the low pressure tracks eastward it will merge with another system to the south later today. This new development will produce around 1 to 3 inches over northern New England. Perhaps the greatest danger though, is a changeover to freezing rain late this afternoon and evening. Around a tenth of ice accretion is forecast which is why there are Winter Weather Advisories in place for north and west of Boston. Snow showers and freezing rain should start to wind down by Tuesday afternoon. 

If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of emergency. Be sure to have multiple ways to get the latest weather information from local TV, weather radio, or the WeatherBug app. With bitterly cold air in place, it is the time to check on the elderly, keep pets inside and dress in as many layers as possible to avoid hypothermia.