Winter storm puts 16 states under alert; snow, ice and tornadoes are expected in the coming days

A strong storm moving through the western mountains and upper Midwest, with far-reaching impacts in the Gulf of Mexico, will bring northerly wind conditions and possible tornadoes to the south.

The storms, which threaten destructive winds and tornadoes, will develop by noon Monday from Houston, Texas, to Shreveport, Louisiana, build up through the afternoon and become larger on Monday.

Thunderstorms will develop before a cold front moves across southeast Texas Monday night through Tuesday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

The new year will begin very wintry across the Plains and Upper Midwest, where a potent winter storm is expected to bring heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain to parts of the area. Significant impacts to travel are likely. pic.twitter.com/9tTzWErp9p

— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) January 1, 2023

According to official information, at least 16 states are under winter and/or wind watches, and a winter storm is expected to bring near-blizzard conditions to the upper Midwest Monday and Tuesday.

A winter storm warning has also been issued in Salt Lake City, Utah, for Sunday, with forecasters predicting 4 to 6 inches of snow.

Snow arrives in Denver, Colorado around midnight, with 3 to 4 inches and up to a foot of snow expected in Vail and possibly more than 2 feet of snow in southwestern Colorado.

Meanwhile, Arizona expects heavy snowfall Sunday with rates that can approach more than 3 inches per hour.

More than a foot of snow and 40+ mph winds are possible in Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota Monday and Tuesday, which could cause driving conditions and power outages.

The ice event will begin Monday afternoon and continue throughout the day, with snow falling and covering the ice on Tuesday morning.