Treacherous weather conditions persist across the Northern and Central Plains, with blizzard and ice storm warnings affecting over a million people. Heavy snow, freezing rain, and powerful winds have led to hazardous road conditions, causing concerns that may extend until early Wednesday. Parts of Nebraska and South Dakota have recorded about four inches of snow, while some towns in southeastern South Dakota received up to a foot since Monday. Western South Dakota, western Nebraska, far eastern Wyoming, and northeastern Colorado expect up to four more inches of snow. Freezing temperatures and strong winds may cause icy roads and whiteout conditions where snowfall has slowed or stopped.
A blizzard warning, covering more than 600,000 people in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming, is in effect until early Wednesday morning. A storm qualifies as a blizzard with significant snow, winds over 35 miles per hour, and visibility less than a quarter mile for at least three hours. Over half a million people are under an ice storm warning in the Dakotas and western Minnesota, with travel expected to be very difficult due to reduced visibility caused by snow.
The South Dakota Department of Transportation reported near-zero visibility on snow and ice-covered roads, leading to the closure of parts of Interstate 90 until Tuesday morning. An accident involving jackknifed tractor-trailers forced the closure of a section of eastbound Interstate 80 near York, Nebraska, for about three hours on Monday afternoon. Approximately 60 weather-related incidents were reported on Interstate 80 in Nebraska on Monday, primarily between Lincoln and North Platte. The challenging weather conditions are impacting travel and road safety in the affected regions.