Overview
- The rapidly intensifying system reached peak strength Monday, with the National Weather Service warning of blizzard conditions over the central Great Lakes and a swift surge of snow, sleet, and freezing rain into New England.
- Millions are under winter alerts, including blizzard warnings in parts of Michigan and northern Iowa, while high wind advisories stretch into the Northeast with gusts forecast to top 55 to 75 mph in places.
- Forecasters expect widespread totals of 6 to 10 inches, with lake-effect bands pushing 1 to 2 feet in pockets of Michigan and upstate New York, and interior New England facing significant ice accretion near one inch.
- Power impacts have climbed to roughly 350,000 outages nationwide with more than 100,000 in Michigan, travel has been disrupted by treacherous roads, and Minnesota activated National Guard support for storm operations.
- The cyclone is projected to move into southeastern Canada by Monday evening, with snow tapering for many while lake-effect squalls persist through Wednesday and an Alberta clipper adds light snow Tuesday.