Snow Storm Map as Brutally Cold Weather to Hit Multiple States

Heavy snow is expected as brutally cold winter weather comes to several western U.S. states on Thursday, with forecasters warning people to be careful when traveling.

In its latest forecast, the National Weather Service said a reprieve from heavy rain is expected after a series of atmospheric rivers—long, narrow streams of moist air containing vast volumes of water vapor—swept across the Pacific Northwest in recent days.

But the forecast warned that "a lingering frontal system off the coast will ensure light to locally moderate rainfall and elevation snow" across the region.

As the system moves east, an "influx of colder continental air" will result in heavy mountain snowfall atop parts of the Cascades, Northern Rockies and Sierra Madre. The forecast also warns of "moderately impactful winter weather" in the northern Plains beginning later on Thursday.

The NWS has issued winter storm warnings for parts of Alaska and Wyoming, while winter weather advisories remain in effect for parts of Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

A winter storm warning is in effect for the Bering Strait Coast of Alaska, as well as St Lawrence Island, until Saturday afternoon, with heavy snow and wings gusting as high as 60 mph expected. The worst conditions are expected on Thursday night into Friday morning, the NWS warned.

In Wyoming, a storm warning is in effect for the Teton and Gros Ventre Mountains until 5 p.m. MST on Friday.

Snow accumulations are expected to be between 12 to 18 inches in the Gros Ventre mountains and Teton Pass, and up to 30 inches in the Teton Mountains.

A winter storm warning for Yellowstone National Park also remains in effect until late on Thursday, with the NWS forecasting total snow accumulations of up to 32 inches on the Pitchstone Plateau. Up to 4 inches of snow is expected at the northern entrance of the park, and up to 10 inches in other locations.

Snow accumulations are expected to reach up to 13 inches around Stevens Pass in Washington, and snowfall rates could approach an inch an hour at times. Snow accumulations of 6 to 15 inches are expected above 3,000 feet in the Cascade mountains of Washington's Whatcom and Skagit counties.

Snow accumulation of up to 7 inches is forecast in Nevada's Elko County, the Ruby Mountains and East Humboldt range above 6,500 feet with higher amounts on the mountain peaks. The forecast also said winds could gust as high as 35 mph in highest terrain causing patchy blowing snow.

In Idaho, up to a foot of snow could fall above 7,000 feet in the Central Idaho Mountains, and as much as 9 inches in the Blackfoot Mountains.

Meanwhile, the East Glacier park region of Montana is forecast to see up to 16 inches of snow in mountain areas and up to 8 inches from Essex to Marias Pass.