New winter storm warnings were issued in four states as experts predicted 14 inches of snow and travel disruptions

Winter storm warnings have been issued in four states as forecasters predict nearly 15 inches of snowfall in some areas Thursday through Friday morning.

Affected states include parts of Wyoming, Colorado, New York and Vermont.

Travel could become very dangerous in these locations, and wind gusts of 50 miles per hour in Vermont and New York could topple tree branches and power lines, potentially causing sporadic outages, the National Weather Service warned.

These winds could also reduce visibility on roads due to blowing snow, the agency added.

“If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of emergency,” officials advised.

The heaviest snowfall of 10 to 35 centimeters is expected in New York and Vermont.

In Wyoming, snow totals will vary between 1 and 10 inches, and Colorado could see 6 to 12 inches.

Winter storm warnings have been issued in four states as forecasters predict nearly 15 inches of snowfall in some areas Thursday through Friday morning

In New York, counties such as Saint Lawrence, Franklin and Clinton are in the path of this storm, and Vermont counties including Chittenden and Lamoille will also be affected.

A winter storm warning remains in effect for these states until 7 a.m. ET Friday.

In Wyoming, the warning is in effect in the following mountain regions: Salt River Range, Wyoming Range, Tetons, Gros Ventre Mountains, Sierra Madre Range and Snowy Range.

The Salt River and Wyoming Ranges can expect 2 to 4 inches of snow and wind gusts up to 45 miles per hour.

“Travel could be very difficult, including over Salt River Pass,” the NWS warned.

One to three inches could accumulate in the Tetons and Gros Ventre Mountains, impacting the morning commute on Teton Pass and Togwotee Pass.

The Snowy Range and Sierra Madre Range will see the most snow, including the cities of Albany and Centennial. Wind speeds of between 15 and 25 centimeters and gusts of up to 80 kilometers per hour are expected in these areas.

“Outdoor recreational activities could be dangerous for those unprepared for dangerous winter conditions.” “Hunters, hikers and snowmobilers can become disoriented and lost due to poor visibility in falling and drifting snow,” the NWS said.

The Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for this region until 5:00 p.m. MST Thursday, and for the Salt River and Wyoming Ranges, as well as the Tetons and Gros Ventre Mountains, until 11:00 a.m. MST Thursday.

In Colorado, the Elkhead and Park Mountains and Rabbit Ears Pass in the northern Rockies are on alert. These include the towns of Columbine, Hahns Peak, Toponas and Mt. Zirkel.

Columbine, Hahns Peak and Toponas can expect 8 to 12 inches of snow (higher amounts are possible locally) and wind gusts of 40 miles per hour.

A winter storm warning is currently in effect for counties highlighted in light pink in Colorado, Wyoming, New York and Vermont

6 to 12 inches of snowfall and wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour are forecast for Mt. Zirkel and Rabbit Ears Pass.

These warnings come as forecasters are watching another winter storm that will spread snow and ice across a 1,500-mile swath of the United States.

The storm will arrive in the Great Plains this weekend and end up on the Atlantic coast next week.

“The storm is shaping up to be the first large-scale winter storm of the season across the central and eastern United States and will negatively impact travel during the final days of the holiday break,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski reported.

At this time, meteorologists are forecasting a major snowstorm from much of Nebraska to southern and central Ohio and West Virginia, with accumulations of 3 to 6 inches.

Heavier snowfall totals of 6 to 12 inches – and possibly more in some areas – will cover much of the Interstate 70 corridor from northern Kansas and southeast Nebraska to southern Ohio.

Major cities expecting several inches include Topeka, Kansas; St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri; Springfield, Ill.; Indianapolis and Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio.

Maximum snowfall could be up to 30 inches anywhere from northern Missouri to west-central Illinois to northeast Kansas.

These warnings come as forecasters are watching another winter storm that will spread snow and ice across a 1,500-mile swath of the United States

But snow isn’t the only thing America’s Heartland has to worry about this weekend.

A destructive ice storm could hit southeast Kansas to southern Missouri, southern Illinois and southern and central Kentucky, Sosnowski reported.

“A heavy layer of ice can bring down many trees and power lines, which can block roads.” “In some communities, power could be out for days if dangerously cold air moves in as a result of the storm,” he explained.

“There may be a significant need to establish emergency shelters to accommodate the population that may be affected.”

Once the storm reaches the Appalachian Mountains and the Atlantic Coast, major cities such as New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Baltimore will be in its path.

Icy conditions may extend to portions of North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, and southern portions of Virginia, potentially affecting the cities of Richmond, Virginia; Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Raleigh, North Carolina.

Traveling in these areas is likely to be dangerous.