Winter Weather Warning for 5 States As Lake Effect Snow Hits Great Lakes

Winter weather warnings and advisories are in place for five U.S. states as more snow is expected to fall over the Great Lakes region and parts of the southwest in the coming days.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued alerts concerning snow and strong winds for parts of Alaska, Colorado, Michigan, New York and New Mexico, warning of reduced visibility and snow accumulations at higher elevations.

Meteorologists are also predicting lingering snow for the Great Lakes after a cold front swept through the region, with areas near large bodies of water expected to experience lake effect snow, when cold air from Canada picks up moisture from lakes to produce precipitation.

Parts of Michigan near Lake Superior could see an additional four inches accumulate until Wednesday morning, with an inch expected in Chippewa County.

Several New York counties in the vicinity of Lake Ontario are expected to see up to six inches of snow, with parts of Oswego and Lewis counties, which directly border the body of water, seeing as much as eight inches.

The region recently faced another bout of snow brought on by an Alberta Clipper system moving cold air down from Canada, while Western states have been subjected to a "prolific series" of atmospheric river storms from the Pacific, having experienced the effects of a similar weather front last winter.

In its latest forecast, the weather agency said a winter storm was expected to impact portions of the southern Rockies and High Plains starting on Wednesday, with rain at lower elevations as well as "a wintry mix in the highlands and snow in the mountains.

The NWS expressed uncertainty as to the levels of snow expected to accumulate in the region, but said it could settle as low as 5,500 feet and as high as 7,500 feet.

In New Mexico's Sandia and Manzano Mountains, up to five inches of snow could accumulate, with nine inches possible atop the Sandia Crest. Wind gusts of up to 35 miles an hour are predicted for the area, with travel difficult, including along portions of the I-40.

As much as 14 inches of snow could fall on the San Juan mountains in Colorado above 9,000 feet into Thursday morning, with up to nine inches expected to fall over the Sangre de Cristo and Wet Mountains.

The NWS also anticipates up to six inches of snow over the San Luis Valley, and predicted "freezing drizzle and dense fog," as well as ice forming, over the Front Range Foothills and Castle Rock.

"Significant rainfall and scattered thunderstorms are also likely across east, central and southeast New Mexico," the NWS said. "Below average temperatures are expected from southern Colorado to west Texas over the next couple of days as well."

Regions of Alaska continue to face low visibility and treacherous conditions because of blowing snow and wind chills, with several inches falling across affected regions.

In some areas, such as the Central Brooks Range in the northern portion of the state, the NWS warned that "dangerously cold" wind chills could reach minus 65 degrees Fahrenheit and "could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as five minutes."