Midwest braces for big winter snowstorm

A winter storm will bring snow to portions of the Plains, Midwest and Northeast this week, likely disrupting travel and closing schools.

A swath of heavy snowfall is likely across the Midwest into the lower to central Great Lakes on Tuesday and Wednesday, the National Weather Service said.

Snowfall accumulations could be 6 to 12 inches. Higher totals are possible.

Several inches of snow are forecast to coat Chicago and Milwaukee, where significant travel impacts are possible Tuesday, the Weather Channel said.

Chicago has the potential to receive its biggest single snowstorm of the season, AccuWeather warned, and at least six inches are possible, likely more.

Chicago’s biggest snowstorm this winter was Feb. 12-13, when 3.5 inches were reported.

Winter storm watches were issued for portions of the Midwest, including the Chicago metro area.

More than 13 million people live where a winter storm watch is in effect.

Gusty winds will likely produce blowing and drifting snow in the Chicago area on Wednesday, the weather service said.

Snow will also spread from the Ohio Valley to New England Wednesday and Thursday.

Some of the heaviest snow is likely in northern New England, where up to a foot is possible.

As has been the case for most of the entire winter, the I-95 corridor of the Northeast will again miss out on the snow.

Rain is forecast.

“Areas where it (snowfall) is very unlikely, is where we’ve seen a snow drought all winter: Boston, New York

City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C,” AccuWeather meteorologist Bernie Rayno said.

In the Midwest and interior Northeast, lake-effect snow will follow the main storm later in the week.

“Even after the storm is over, another wave of Arctic air will follow and generate lake-effect snow as it rushes across the Great Lakes,” AccuWeather meteorologist Courtney Travis said.

Accumulating snow downwind of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior may linger as late as Saturday before tapering off, AccuWeather said.