CHICAGO, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- A nasty winter storm brewing in the U.S. midsection Sunday night spelled a miserable start to the work week, weather forecasters said.
The National Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings for parts of Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and South Dakota.
The weather service said southeastern Kansas could get 9-14 inches of snow by Tuesday night, while parts of central and south-central Kansas getting 6-8 inches. South Dakota could expect up to 10 inches and southern Minnesota 6-8. The snow was to be accompanied by numbing temperatures and stiff winds that could bring blizzard conditions to Chicago.
Some areas, including St. Louis, will see freezing rain, sleet and snow. KTVI-TV in St. Louis said a foot of snow could be expected in northeast Missouri and west-central Illinois.
While rain pelted the Gulf Coast Sunday, winter weather watches and advisory were in effect for virtually the entire central United States from points in Montana and Oklahoma east to Detroit.
AccuWeather.com said in a written statement that conditions had the makings for a "Groundhog Day" storm in which relatively mild air in the Great Plains would receive a shot of arctic cold and dramatic drops in temperature.
"This is the type of storm that could shut down the region with high winds, plunging temperatures, ice, snow and a rapid freeze-up on roads," said AccuWeather forecaster Heather Buchman.
The misery won't be restricted to the heartland. Heavy snow is predicted for the Rockies and the East Coast can look forward to another round of rain and snow around midweek. UPI
