Winter Storm Update as Blizzard Conditions Impact Colorado

A significant winter storm that brought heavy snow and blizzard conditions to the Midwest over Christmas is weakening, forecasters said.

However, blizzard conditions will still be affecting several counties in Colorado and some places in Nebraska on Wednesday morning.

"The winter storm that prompted widespread blizzard warnings across the northern and central Plains will continue to gradually wind down today," the National Weather Service (NWS) said in its latest forecast at 3 a.m. ET on Wednesday.

"Nevertheless, the huge circulation in connection with this anomalous low pressure system will take some time to spin down."

The weather service added that the "main swath of snow that is still impacting portions of the northern Plains to the central High Plains this morning is forecast to taper off to light snow" by Wednesday night.

Blizzard warnings remain in effect for several places in northeastern Colorado until 5 a.m. MST on Wednesday.

A warning for Phillips and Sedgwick counties says additional snow accumulations up to two inches are expected and winds will be gusting as high as 40 mph. Travelers are warned to plan for slippery road conditions as roads will likely become slick and hazardous, and visibility could drop below a quarter-mile due to falling and blowing slow.

A warning also remains in effect for north and northeast Elbert County below 6,000 feet, as well as North Lincoln and Washington counties until Wednesday morning. There, additional snow accumulations of up to two inches are expected with winds gusting as high as 55 mph and travelers are warning that driving will be hazardous.

Another inch of snow could fall in parts of northern Colorado's El Paso County, Monument Ridge and the Rampart Range below 7,500 feet, where winds are gusting as high as 45 mph. Forecasters warn that areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility.

Meanwhile, some winter storm warnings and blizzard warnings remain in effect in parts of western Nebraska until early Wednesday morning.

Blizzard conditions are expected in Banner, Cheyenne and Kimball counties, with additional snow accumulations of up to two inches—with four inches possible in some places—and winds gusting as high as 60 mph. Forecasters warn this will make for extremely dangerous or impossible travel conditions due to icy, snow-packed roads and near-zero visibility.

A warning is also in effect for Deuel, Garden and Keith counties until 5 a.m. MST and says that winds gusting as high as 40 mph are producing blowing snow and very low visibility.