Two snowstorms will likely slow down supply chains in three freight regions the next two days. One storm is producing icy conditions too.
Mountain Prairie and Midwest regions
A potent low-pressure system and associated cold front are moving through parts of the Plains to the Great Lakes. Snowfall and freezing rain are making roads very slick in places like Omaha and North Platte, Nebraska; Des Moines, Iowa; Rochester, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Duluth, Minnesota; as well as Eau Claire and La Crosse, Wisconsin. Many of these areas, and spots in between, are under winter storm warnings for several inches of potential snowfall or ice storm warnings for up to a quarter inch of ice.
Ice will build up mostly on bridges, overpasses and other elevated surfaces, impacting drivers on Interstates 35, 80 and 94. However, some secondary roads that were not pretreated may become icy.
This storm should fade Tuesday afternoon or evening, but conditions will remain hazardous Tuesday night and Wednesday morning with temperatures well below freezing.
Northwest region
Heavy snowfall and gusty winds will continue in the Cascades of Washington and Oregon Tuesday, possibly lingering into Wednesday. High elevations could see 10 to 20 inches, with limited visibility at times. Trouble spots include McKenzie Pass, Santiam Pass, Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens. Drivers may hit some slick spots on I-90 from Spokane, Washington, to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where a few inches of snowfall could pile up.