Four things to know about Travel & RV Weather Friday 17 March

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Heavy snow for parts of Michigan this weekend; extensive strong winds over much of the East today.
Snow for the Big Bend region in Texas this evening and Saturday.
Severe weather threat along the Gulf Coast today.
Potential dangerous, long-lived snow squall develops over Indiana Saturday morning and moves east to western New York and central Pennsylvania by evening. See write-up and animation below.

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Where does the California storm go next? Click here for the extended outlook (updates every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday)

Pacific:

— No weather significantly impacts RV travel today or Saturday.

Mountain:

— Eastern WY: Strong winds this afternoon. Gusts 35-45 mph. I-25, I-90 impacted.

— Portions of north-central, central and west-central NM: Winter Storm Warnings and Advisories through midday today. Additional snow accumulations of 1-4 inches probable. I-25, I-40 impacted.

— Central and southern AZ: Strong winds Sunday. Gusts 30-40 mph. I-10, I-17, I-40 impacted.

Central:

— Southwest TX Big Bend region: Winter Weather Advisories this evening through Saturday evening. 1-3 inches of snow expected, especially in higher terrain. I-10, I-10/I-20 split impacted.

— Much of north-central, central and southern TX; southwest LA along and south of I-10: Wind Advisories this morning. Gusts 35-40 mph. I-10, I-20, I-30, I-35, I-37, I-45 impacted.

— West-central and southwest SD: Wind Advisory through this evening. Gusts to 50 mph. I-90 impacted.

— Western and central NE: Strong winds this afternoon and evening. Gusts 35-45 mph. I-76, I-80 impacted.

— Portions of eastern ND and adjacent northwest MN: Winter Weather Advisories mid-morning through this evening. Snow and blowing snow. Up to an inch of accumulation. Wind gusts 40-45 mph. I-29, I-94 impacted.

— MN Arrowhead: Winter Weather Advisory through tonight. Additional snow accumulation 1-4 inches. I-35 impacted.

— Portions of northwest WI: Winter Storm Warning through tonight. Snow accumulations generally 2-5 inches with locally higher amounts.

— Southeast LA; MS and AL coastal regions; FL Panhandle: A few severe thunderstorms possible today. Damaging winds will be the main threat, but a tornado or two cannot be ruled out. I-10, I-12, I-55, I-59, I-65 potentially impacted.

Eastern:

— MI Upper Peninsula: Winter Storm Warnings (west) and Advisories through Saturday evening. Heavy snow followed by lake-effect snow. Total accumulations 4-10 inches in the east and 8-17 inches in the west. Wind gusts 45-50 mph. I-75, US-2, US-41, MI-28 impacted.

— Western coastal MI Lower Peninsula: Winter Weather Advisories this evening through Saturday night. 2-4 inches lake affect snow possible. Wind gusts to 35 mph. I-75, I-94, I-196, US-31 impacted.

— Western NY Snowbelts downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario: Winter Storm Watches Saturday afternoon through Sunday afternoon. Heavy lake effect snow possible with wind gusts to 40 mph. I-81, I-86, I-90 / NY Thruway potentially impacted.

— Central and eastern IN; all of OH; western and central PA; western NY: There are indications that an intense, long-lived snow squall may set up early Saturday morning over Indiana move eastward into PA and NY by evening. This is far from a ‘sure-bet’, but if this happens, it will produce extremely dangerous conditions on the main highways and interstates. Drivers go from a normal day with dry roads, almost instantly into near-zero visibility and slick, snow-covered roads. These conditions many times lead to multi-vehicle, fatal wrecks. Check back Saturday morning to see if this snow squall line is still in the forecast. If so, re-route your travel to avoid being on the highway when it comes through. Dangerous conditions will only last 15-20 minutes, but that’s all it takes to create chaos. If this comes to pass the National Weather Service will issue ‘Snow Squall Warnings’. If you are in a Snow Squall Warning, get off the highway if at all possible.

— Southern MI; northern IN; OH; central and eastern KY; eastern TN; eastern WV and far-west MD; central and southeast VA; north-central and northeast NC: Widespread strong winds Friday. Gusts 30-45 mph. I-26, I-40, I-64,I-65, I-69, I-70, I-71, I-74, I-75, I-76, I-77, I-80, I-81, I-94, I-95, I-96 , OH Turnpike, IN Toll Road impacted.

Tornado safety information for RVers (what to do!):

Weather Safety Tips

Access to real-time road information:

Phone numbers and websites for road conditions in all 50 states. Courtesy of the Cheyenne WY Weather Forecast Office

Weather Hazards as of Friday morning 17 March. Click on graphic for real-time update.
Watch the dark blue line move across IN, OH, into western and central PA and western NY.

Starting Saturday morning and into the evening. If this verifies, this snow squall line will create brief but very dangerous conditions on the highways: sudden drop to near-zero visibility and roads that were dry become slick.
Severe thunderstorm risk today 17 March
Flash flood risk today 17 March
Wind gusts this afternoon 17 March
Likelihood of winter weather impacting RV travel today 17 March (west)
Likelihood of winter weather impacting RV travel today 17 March (east)
Wind gusts Saturday afternoon 18 March
Likelihood of winter weather impacting RV travel Saturday 18 March (west)
Likelihood of winter weather impacting RV travel Saturday 18 March (east)
Wind gusts Sunday afternoon 19 March
Likelihood of winter weather impacting RV travel Sunday 19 March (west)
Likelihood of winter weather impacting RV travel Sunday 19 March (east)
Total snowfall accumulation through Sunday night 19 March
Total precipitation amounts through Sunday 19 March