Winter storm will blast millions in the Northeast with snow and rain ahead of early Thanksgiving travel

A pair of powerful winter storms packing snow, heavy rain and high winds are expected to lead to treacherous travel conditions this week. This comes as millions of people across the United States prepare to hit the road and pack airports ahead of Thanksgiving.

The first storm system is already underway across the central US, where it unleashed bouts of severe weather on Monday.

Severe thunderstorms packed damaging wind gusts that blew across tractor-trailers, dropped large hail and even produced tornadoes that impacted the region at the start of the work week.

The storm system now continues on its journey north, where the FOX Forecast Center says it will begin pulling in cold Arctic air from Canada, resulting in widespread snow across parts of the Dakotas and into the Upper Midwest.

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Winter weather advisories have been issued across most of North Dakota, including winter storm warnings for cities such as Minot, Bottineau and Devils Lake.

The National Weather Service office in Bismarck, North Dakota, said heavy snow and blowing snow is expected in areas included in the Winter Storm Warning.

Snow totals between 4-7 inches could fall there, and winds could gust as high as 50 mph, according to the NWS.

“If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.” forecasters warned.

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Snow across the Northern Tier and Upper Midwest will range from a dusting in parts of Wisconsin and Minnesota to a foot or more in parts of North Dakota closest to the Canadian border.

As the storm winds down, parts of northwestern Minnesota could see 5-8 inches of snow by midweek.

The FOX Forecast Center said traveling along Interstate 29 from FargoNorth Dakota, to Sioux FallsSouth Dakota and Interstate 94 from Fargo to BismarckNorth Dakota, can be dangerous as the rain turns to snow.

On Wednesday, cities such as Minneapolisand Green Bay and Milwaukee in Wisconsin, will be aware of the potential for snow showers throughout the day as colder air surrounds the storm system.

Millions in the middle of the Atlantic, northeast to be blasted by rain, snow

After the storm hitting the Midwest begins to wind down by mid-week, another storm will form and quickly intensify, just as millions of people in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast finalize their plans to travel early ahead of the busy Thanksgiving holiday.

The FOX Forecast Center said the powerful low pressure system is likely to form in the Ohio River Valley and Great Lakes and rapidly strengthen on Wednesday.

As the storm center drifts into the mid-Atlantic and Northeast later this week, strong winds are expected to blow in cold air supporting snow from parts of the Great Lakes region to the Ohio Valley.

The cold air will likely be on the south side of the storm and blow into the Appalachians.

NWS office in Charleston, West Virginia, says heavy snow is possible in the higher altitudes, which may affect the journey. Strong gusts of wind can also bring down branches, leading to power outages.

A winter storm watch is in effect for parts of West Virginia, including Elkins.

The FOX Forecast Center said snow is possible across parts of the interior Ohio Valley, northern mid-Atlantic and interior Northeast by the end of the week into the weekend in that area.

While the wintry weather is expected to affect interior parts of the region, much-needed rain will likely fall closer to the East Coast, including the busy Interstate 95 corridor.

The rain is likely to affect drought conditions and aid firefighting efforts that have been underway across the region after several wildfires broke out over the past several weeks.

The bad weather at the end of the week and into the weekend across the northeast has the potential to snarl air and road travel just as the Thanksgiving travel week gets under way.

Rain in the Northeast can be heavy at times, but right now the FOX Forecast Center is not expecting flash flooding due to recent record dry conditions in the region.