More than 90 million people are under winter weather alerts and more than 87 million are under wind chill alerts.
The storm will strengthen over the Northern Plains through the day as heavy snow falls across much of the Rockies, the Northern Plains and into the Midwest. Slick roads will lead to travel headaches and airport delays through places like Minneapolis, Omaha and Rapid City.
"Whiteout conditions are expected during that time with travel becoming very difficult or impossible," said the weather service. "This event could be life-threatening if you are stranded with wind chills in the 30 below to 45 below zero range."Chicago could also face blizzard conditions with winds gusting as high as 50 mph, with 2 to 4 inches of snow forecast.
Snow could fall as far south as Jackson, Mississippi, Memphis and Nashville in Tennessee and even Birmingham, Alabama, on Thursday. Little to no accumulation is expected for most of the southern cities, however, Nashville could pick up about an inch of snow.What can I do if my flight is canceled, delayed? How to prepare for likely 2022 holiday travel mess
"This is a case in which snow totals may not tell the whole story. Even small snow amounts, when combined with very strong wind gusts and plummeting temperatures, can cause poor visibility and slick spots on roads. The sudden arrival of these conditions can increase the danger," the weather service explained.The storm will be over the Great Lakes on Friday and continuing to produce heavy snow across much of the Midwest.
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