Winter Storm Odell is set to march across the country on Wednesday evening, placing 13 states on alert for heavy snow.
More than two foot of snow has already been dumped in western South Dakota and a foot of snow in Kansas, where one person died and two children were injured in an accident caused by the storm.
The storm system is now set to move toward the northeast bringing snow, heavy rain and high winds that could cause airport delays in many major hubs. The storm will hit a 1,200-mile stretch from Missouri to Maine affecting 25 million people.
Dangerous driving conditions in Kentucky as a result of Winter Storm Odell now set to sweep through the northwest
The snow system named Winter Storm Odell has already brought heavy snow to the Rockies and Northern and Central Plains
Troopers in Kentucky showed the dangerous road conditions as they warned to wear seat belts in the treacherous conditions
A jogger heads down Lions Park Drive in St. Joseph on Wednesday after a winter storm moved through Southwest Michigan
Thirteen states were placed on alert for heavy snow on Wednesday after intense snowfall hit the Rockies to the Northern and Central Plains from Sunday onward.
On Tuesday, Kansas Highway Patrol reported that 26-year-old Alberto Garcia was killed in a multi-car crash caused by the snow. Two boys, 4 and 6, were also injured in the crash just south of Lindsborg.
The four occupants of the other vehicle were not injured.
The highest recorded snow so far has been in 31 inches in Lead, South Dakota, near the Wyoming state line.
On Wednesday morning, the eye of the storm was moving through Ohio Valley and the eastern Great Lakes but the storm system was set to travel northeast on Wednesday evening, when it will begin to turn to rain in places.
The system will spell heavy rain along the I-95 corridor from Washington D.C. to New York.
The rain is expected to reach Boston by Thursday morning.
There are lake effect snow warnings in place in western New York, where up to 3 foot of snow may fall before Saturday
The storm system will change from snow to heavy rain in many places as it slowly moves northeast through Thursday
Kansas was struck by several road accidents due to the wintry conditions as state troopers warned to drive carefully
Lucas Oil Stadium as snow began to fall in Indiana on Wednesday during Winter Storm Odell. Thirteen states face snow
The snow will continue throughout Wednesday in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.
As of Wednesday morning, one to four inches of snow had fallen in Illinois, Indiana and southern Michigan.
Weather warnings have been posted for cities including Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis and St. Louis.
The wind is expected to cause the most disruption in Chicago.
‘The winds and large battering waves combined with record-high lake levels will exacerbate already significant beach and shoreline erosion,’ the Chicago Weather Service said.
Snow may also be seen as far south as Tennessee and North Carolina.
Heavy rain will have reached eastern New England by Thursday morning as the storm moves slowly.
Snow may also be seen further inland on Thursday in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and eastern New York.
The highest snowfall is expected to be in Michigan and western New York where between six and 12inches is expected.
High winds are expected to follow the storm, potentially causing flight delays in those cities with major hubs.
A further one to two feet of snow could be seen near the Great Lakes in western New York as cold winds move across behind the storm system.
A lake effect snow warning has been put in place for Jefferson, Lewis and Oswego counties, which will last from Thursday morning until Saturday evening. The area covers to the southeast of Lake Erie and to the east of Lake Ontario.
The National Weather Service predicts that between two and three foot of snow could fall in the next three days ad even more in some areas.
‘Snowfall rates may exceed 2 inches per hour at times,’ the warning said.
‘Winds could gust as high as 45 to 50 mph resulting in SIGNIFICANT blowing and drifting snow. Travel will become very difficult to impossible with very poor visibility and deep snow cover on roads.’
The warning for central New York state was less severe but still warned for the potential of five to 14 inches of snow and wind gusts of 35 mph or more.
‘Gusty winds may lead to areas of blowing snow and whiteout conditions,’ the weather service said.
On Wednesday evening, snow will continue in places like Chicago as the storm moves northeast bringing heavy rain
The departing Winter Storm Odell will leave heavy gusts in its wake, which may affect airport departures on Thursday
On Thursday, the precipitation will linger as the storm system moves north to Canada.
Heavy snow may still continue in upstate New York and in northern New England.
Lake-effect snow warnings will remain in place near the Great Lakes through to Saturday.
Gusty winds are predicted to be at their worst on Thursday.