Winter Weather Alert: Which states will see snow storms today, Monday December 18?
Winter weather will be affecting communities across the country creating hazardous conditions in some areas. Check out the full list of NWS alerts.
Cold temperatures and snow are creating dangerous conditions around the country. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued dozens of alerts. If you live in an affected area, it is advised that you take the proper precautions to stay safe. We have compiled all of the current alerts active for Monday 18 December, and for the full details, check out the NWS website.
What is a Winter Weather Advisory?
The NWS issues a Winter Weather Advisory “for any amount of freezing rain, or when 2 to 4 inches of snow (alone or in combination with sleet and freezing rain), is expected to cause a significant inconvenience, but not serious enough to warrant a warning.” For the details, please review the information uploaded to the NWS website, which compiles and updates these alerts.
What is a Freezing Fog Advisory?
The NWS issues a Freezing Fog Advisory when visibility is below one mile in freezing fog. Low visibility can make driving conditions hazardous. Freezing fog will also lead to icy spots on roadways, especially on elevated surfaces such as overpasses and bridges.
What is a Winter Storm Warning?
The more severe alert issued by the NWS is a Winter Storm Warning, which includes “heavy snow of at least six inches in 12 hours, or at least eight inches in 24 hours, is expected. It can also be issued if sleet accumulation will be at least half an inch.”
What is an Ice Storm Warning? A Blizzard Warning?
The NWS also issues other severe weather alerts: one is called an Ice Storm Warning, where ice accumulation of at least one-fourth of an inch is expected, while a Blizzard Warning is given when blizzard conditions are expected for at least three hours.
Alaska
Winter Weather Advisory: Western Arctic Coast (until Dec. 18 6 a.m. AKST)
Arizona
Freezing Fog Advisory: Chinle Valley (until Dec. 18 10 a.m. MST)
California
Winter Weather Advisory: Lassen-Eastern Plumas-Eastern Sierra Counties; Surprise Valley California (until Dec. 18 7 p.m. PST)
Colorado
Dense Fog Advisory: Four Corners, Upper Dolores River (until Dec.18 10 a.m. MST)
Illinois
Freezing Fog Advisory: Alexander; Jackson; Pulaski; Union; Williamson (until Dec. 18 6 a.m. CST)
Indiana
Winter Weather Advisory: Clark; Floyd; Jefferson; Scott (until Dec. 18 7 p.m. EST), Fayette; Union; Wayne, Dearborn; Franklin; Ohio; Ripley; Switzerland (until Dec. 19 1 a.m. EST), Lagrange; Noble, Marshall; Northern Kosciusko; Northern La Porte; Western St. Joseph (until Dec. 19 4 .m. EST)
Winter Storm Warning: Eastern St. Joseph; Elkhart (until Dec. 19 4 a.m. EST)
Kentucky
Freezing Fog Advisory: Carlisle; Fulton; Hickman (until Dec. 18 7 a.m.)
Winter Weather Advisory: Anderson; Bourbon; Boyle; Bullitt; Clark; Fayette; Franklin; Garrard; Harrison; Henry; Jefferson; Jessamine; Lincoln; Madison; Mercer; Nelson; Nicholas; Oldham; Scott; Shelby; Spencer; Trimble; Washington; Woodford (until Dec. 18 7 p.m. EST), Boone; Bracken; Campbell; Carroll; Gallatin; Grant; Kenton; Lewis; Mason; Owen; Pendleton; Robertson (until Dec. 19 1 a.m. EST), Bath; Bell; Breathitt; Clay; Elliott; Estill; Fleming; Floyd; Harlan; Jackson; Johnson; Knott; Knox; Laurel; Lee; Leslie; Letcher; Magoffin; Martin; Menifee; Montgomery; Morgan; Owsley; Perry; Pike; Powell; Rockcastle; Rowan; Whitley; Wolfe (until Dec. 19 4 a.m. EST)
Maryland
Winter Weather Advisory: Extreme Western Allegany (until Dec. 19 8 a.m. EST)
Winter Storm Warning: Garrett (until Dec. 19 10 a.m. EST)
Michigan
Winter Storm Warning: Allegan, Van Buren, Cass; Northern Berrien; Southern Berrien (until Dec. 19 4 a.m. EST)
Winter Weather Advisory: Lake; Mason; Oceana; Osceola, Kalamazoo; Muskegon; Ottawa, St. Joseph (until Dec. 19 4 a.m. EST), Gogebic; Houghton; Keweenaw; Ontonagon; Southern Houghton (until Dec. 18 4 p.m. EST), Alger; Baraga; Marquette (until Dec. 18 7 a.m. EST), Huron; Sanilac; Tuscola (until Dec. 19 12 a.m. EST), Antrim; Benzie; Grand Traverse; Kalkaska; Leelanau; Manistee; Missaukee; Wexford (until Dec. 19 1 a.m. EST)
New Mexico
Freezing Fog Advisory: Northwest Plateau (until Dec. 18 8 a.m. MST)
New York
Winter Storm Warning: Chautauqua (until Dec. 19 10 a.m. EST)
Winter Weather Advisory: Cattaraugus; Southern Erie; Wyoming, Genesee; Niagara; Northern Erie; Orleans (until Dec. 19 10 a.m. EST), Monroe; Ontario; Wayne (until Dec. 19 1 p.m. EST)
Nevada
Winter Weather Advisory: Northern Washoe County (until Dec. 18 12 p.m PST), Humboldt County (until Dec. 18 10 a.m PST)
North Carolina
Winter Weather Advisory: Ashe; Watauga (until Dec. 19 10 a.m. EST), Avery; Mitchell; Yancey, Graham; Haywood; Madison; Swain (until Dec. 19 6 a.m. EST)
Ohio
Winter Storm Warning: Ashtabula Inland; Geauga (until Dec. 19 10 a.m. EST)
Winter Weather Advisory: Ashtabula Lakeshore; Cuyahoga; Lake; Medina; Portage; Summit; Trumbull (until Dec. 19 10 a.m. EST), Auglaize; Butler; Champaign; Clark; Clinton; Darke; Delaware; Fairfield; Fayette; Franklin; Greene; Hardin; Highland; Hocking; Licking; Logan; Madison; Mercer; Miami; Montgomery; Pickaway; Pike; Preble; Ross; Shelby; Union; Warren, Adams; Brown; Clermont; Hamilton; Scioto (until Dec. 19 1 a.m. EST)
Oregon
Freezing Fog Advisory: North Central Oregon, Central Oregon (until Dec. 18 10 a.m. PST)
Pennsylvania
Winter Storm Warning: Somerset, Fayette Ridges; Westmoreland Ridges (until Dec. 19 10 a.m. EST), Crawford; Southern Erie (until Dec. 19 1 p.m. EST)
Winter Weather Advisory: Warren, Cambria; Clearfield; Elk; McKean, Northern Erie, Clarion; Forest; Jefferson; Mercer; Venango, Higher Elevations of Indiana (until Dec. 19 10 a.m. EST)
Tennessee
Freezing Fog Advisory: Lake; Obion, Benton; Carroll; Henry; Weakley (until Dec. 18 6 a.m. CST)
Winter Weather Advisory: Smoky Mountains; Cocke Smoky Mountains; Johnson; Sevier Smoky Mountains; Southeast Carter; Southeast Greene; Southeast Monroe; Unicoi (until Dec. 19 6 a.m. CST)
Virgina
Winter Weather Advisory: Grayson; Smyth; Tazewell, Buchanan; Dickenson (until Dec. 19 10 a.m. EST), Lee; Russell; Washington; Wise (until Dec. 19 7 a.m. EST)
Winter Storm Warning: Western Highland (until Dec. 19 10 a.m. EST)
Washington
Winter Weather Advisory: Lower Slopes of the Eastern Washington Cascades Crest; Upper Slopes of the Eastern Washington Cascades Crest (until Dec. 19 1 p.m. PST)
West Virginia
Winter Storm Warning: Western Greenbrier, Northwest Nicholas; Northwest Webster; Southeast Fayette; Upshur, Northwest Randolph; Southeast Nicholas, Northwest Pocahontas; Southeast Randolph; Southeast Webster, Western Grant; Western Pendleton, Eastern Preston; Eastern Tucker; Western Tucker (until Dec. 19 10 a.m EST)
Winter Weather Advisory: Mercer; Summers, Boone; Braxton; Lewis; Logan; Mingo, Barbour; McDowell; Northwest Fayette; Northwest Raleigh; Southeast Raleigh; Wyoming, Preston; Ridges of Eastern Monongalia and Northwestern Preston (until Dec. 19 10 a.m EST), Western Mineral (until Dec. 19 8 a.m EST)
Wisconsin
Winter Weather Advisory: Iron, Vilas (until Dec. 18 3 p.m. CST)
It’s important to keep yourself updated with the latest weather alerts. To get the full details, you can visit the NWS website. In most cases, these warnings will advise you to stay off the roads or take necessary precautions. For instance, make sure to give yourself extra time to reach your destination as the roads might be slippery and require you to slow down at certain points. When you’re not on the road, it’s also important to be cautious while walking on walkways, sidewalks, and paths as they can become icy and increase the risk of injuries.