More than 40 million people are under weather alert as a winter storm approaches, expected to impact areas from the Dakotas to northern New England in the coming days.

Blizzard warnings were in effect Sunday morning in parts of North Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa, where Snow accumulations of 7 to 20 centimeters are expected, accompanied by wind gusts of up to 72 kilometers per hour, reducing visibility to near zero through Monday. In Michigan's Upper Peninsula, authorities issued blizzard warnings for snowfalls that could range from 23 to 60 centimeters, with wind gusts reaching 96 km/h. Risk of ice, heavy rain, and strong winds in the Northeast. From eastern Minnesota to northern Michigan, cities such as Minneapolis, Green Bay, and Sault Ste. Marie remain under winter storm warnings due to the combination of snow, ice, and strong winds. In the Northeast, freezing rain advisories are in effect from Pennsylvania through Vermont and Maine. Additionally, a flood warning was issued for Buffalo and Jamestown, New York, where up to 38 millimeters of rain could fall between Sunday and Monday. Detroit and Cleveland are also under a high wind warning, with gusts that could reach 96 km/h between Sunday night and early Tuesday morning. Impact on Highways and Major Cities: The storm began to manifest itself with snowfall in cities like Sioux Falls and Fargo starting early Sunday morning. The heaviest precipitation is expected to reach Minneapolis and northern Iowa around midday. Authorities warned of hazardous conditions on key stretches of highways such as I-45 and I-90, especially in areas of the Midwest and the Great Lakes, where visibility will be severely reduced. On the I-95 corridor, from Philadelphia to Boston,A brief mix of freezing rain and snow is possible before the system transitions to rain with the arrival of warmer air.

System Forecast and Development

The storm is expected to begin dissipating Monday night, although lake-effect snow will continue in parts of the eastern Great Lakes and the interior Northeast, potentially extending into Tuesday or Wednesday.

The heaviest snow accumulations are expected in the Midwest and Michigan's Upper Peninsula, while some areas of northern New England could see up to half a centimeter of ice buildup, increasing the risk of power outages and accidents.

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