Winter Storm Warning Issued for 9 States as Intense Snowfall Predicted

Winter storm warnings are in place for parts of nine states as a "strong" winter storm is set to bring heavy snowfall to mountain regions of the Northwest and Central Plains.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued alerts for Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, warning of blowing snow and strong winds.

In its latest forecast, the NWS said the storm is expected to move across the Northwest and into the northern Rockies on Monday, before heading into the central Rockies by Tuesday evening.

"Snowfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour are expected over the Oregon Cascades and Northern Rockies Monday before spreading into the Great Basin and Central Rockies Tuesday," the NWS said. "These snow rates combined with winds gusting 50-65 mph will produce near-blizzard conditions with significantly reduced visibility and snow-covered roads leading to dangerous travel."

The weather agency also predicts "significant" snow accumulations across the region, with totals of more than 2 feet in the Cascades through Tuesday and local amounts reaching as high as 4 feet. Snow is also expected to settle in valleys.

In west-central Washington and Oregon, up to 20 inches of snow is predicted across the Cascades, with 2 feet at elevations above 2,000 feet and wind gusts of up to 50 miles an hour.

Up to 18 inches of snow and winds reaching 60 miles an hour are expected across mountain regions of Idaho. Wintry conditions will continue into western Montana, where up to 2 feet of snow and strong winds will create areas of blowing and drifting snow, while wind chills could reach minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit.

Western and north-central Wyoming are facing a band of heavy snowfall, with up to 18 inches of snow accumulation and winds reaching 70 miles an hour. Across central Utah, up to 2 feet of snow and wind gusts of up to 60 miles an hour are predicted.

In west and central Colorado, blowing snow and accumulations of up to 3 feet are expected at higher elevations, with winds reaching 85 miles an hour. Travel will become very difficult or impossible, with wind chills bringing the potential for frostbite on exposed skin to as little as 30 minutes.

This will continue into the Sangre de Cristo and Tusas mountains of New Mexico, where as much as 18 inches of snow is set to fall, with winds gusting as high as 75 miles an hour.

In northeastern Nevada, up to 10 inches of snow is expected above 6,500 feet, along with winds of 55 miles an hour. So far, the Ruby and Humboldt mountains are the only areas to be issued a blizzard warning, and 20 inches of snow and 70 mile an hour winds are expected to reduce visibility significantly.

This weather follows a pair of powerful atmospheric river storms from the Pacific that brought widespread flooding to California earlier in the month.

Western states have already faced several bouts of heavy snowfall far this winter, having been hit by a "prolific series" of atmospheric river storms that brought a rare blizzard warning for Seattle in early January.