A developing winter storm is sweeping across the northern half of the nation, blanketing cities from the Midwest to the northern Rockies with a thick swath of early-season snow. By sunrise today, bands of moderate to heavy snow are already spreading through parts of Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana, while Montana and Wyoming brace for the strongest snowfall late Friday into Saturday morning.
The National Weather Service reports that snow totals could reach 8 to 12 inches in and around Billings, Montana, with higher peaks in surrounding foothills. Farther east, a sharp corridor of 3 to 8 inches stretches from Kansas City through Chicago, Indianapolis, and into western Pennsylvania. Localized lake-effect bands near Cleveland and Erie may push totals closer to 10 inches by late Friday.
Travel conditions will deteriorate rapidly across I-70, I-80, and I-90, where visibility may fall below one mile at times. Commuters are urged to plan extra time, slow down, and keep emergency kits in vehicles. Meteorologists warn that temperatures dropping near freezing could create slick road surfaces and pockets of black ice across the Midwest corridor.
By Saturday, snow tapers eastward while lingering mountain snow showers continue across western Montana and Wyoming. The rest of the weekend looks clearer but cold, with widespread highs in the 20s and 30s through much of the northern U.S.
