Huge winter storm to blanket Plains and Midwest

Another blizzard is spinning across the Plains as the week draws to an end. April blizzards are not uncommon. Over the past eighteen years, fourteen have had an April blizzard in the contininental U.S. Nonetheless, this blizzard, and the system altogether, will be historic.

There is a huge winter component to this strong low pressure system. Today in Nebraska and South Dakota there was low visibility, blowing and drifting snow and winds over 35 mph. That's what defines a blizzard.

Five states are under blizzard warnings, including South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Kansas and Colorado. Seven states are under winter storm warnings and five states under winter storm watches, all from this one system.

The blizzard warnings are on the northwest side of the low pressure center, and less than 200 miles away in the warm sector of the system, there are tornado watches. This is classic set up for a strong, spring low pressure system.

On top of the blizzard conditions,12-18 inches of snow will fall with higher totals up to 24 inches locally.

The system is going to bypass Michiana to the north, dropping heavy snow on Wisconsin, Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, but leaving Michiana with only a dusting.