Travel & RV Weather Forecast Tuesday 21 February

** Heads Up ** Avoid travel in the West, Southwest and Rockies tonight and Wednesday if possible. Large, major winter storm is creating dangerous travel conditions along and west of I-25 and north of I-80. Widespread winds gusting to near hurricane force across southern California, Arizona and New Mexico, will produce dust-storms with zero visibility. Do not drive or tow through these conditions if at all possible. Conditions improve after Wednesday, but beware of low elevations snows in California later this week – and winter conditions on passes that rarely see such impacted.

Large and major winter storm impacts much of the US:
- Heavy, low-elevation snows across the Pacific Northwest, Northern Rockies and Northern Plains
- High Winds (gusts near hurricane force) throughout the Rockies, Southwest and California deserts
- Severe weather threat mid-week across the Lower Mississippi Valley
- Strong winds over parts of the Mid-west and Mid-Atlantic.
- Snow sleet and freezing rain move into the Great Lakes, northern New York, and New England.

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Pacific:

— Northwest WA Olympic Mountains and valleys: Winter Weather Advisory this evening through Wednesday afternoon. 6-11 inches snow expected.

— Northwest WA northern Puget Sound: Wind Advisory this afternoon through Thursday afternoon. Gusts to 50 mph. I-5 impacted.

— Northeast WA; Northern ID: Winter Weather Advisory through this evening. 1-4 inches snow in the valleys and 5-10 inches in the mountains.

— WA and OR Cascades above 2000 feet: Winter Storm Warnings continue through Wednesday morning. Expect an additional 6-15 inches snow. Snow will end from north to south. Wind gusts 45-55 mph. I-5 (Grants and Siskiyou Passes), I-90 impacted.

— Central and southeast WA; northern ID; north-central OR: High Wind Warnings and Advisories continue through this morning. Gusts 55-65 mph. I-82, I-84, I-90, US-2, US-97, US-395 impacted.

— Northeast OR and adjacent southeast WA: Winter Storm Warning this afternoon through Wednesday morning for the Blue Mountains. 10-18 inches of snow and wind gusts to 60 mph. I-84 impacted.

— Central and southeast OR; portions of northeast CA; northwest NV: Wind Advisories through this afternoon. Gust to 55 mph. I-80, US-95, US-395 impacted.

— OR and northwest CA coastal ranges: Winter Storm Warnings through Wednesday morning above 1000 feet. 3-11 inches snow above 1000 feet and 10-20 inches snow above 2000 feet. Wind gusts to 40 mph. US-101 impacted.

— Much of western half of coastal CA from Santa Barbara north to the OR border: Wind Advisories today and tonight. Gusts 50-55 mph. Strongest winds near the coast and the coastal ranges north of Santa Barbara. I-5, I-80, US-101, CA-1, CA-99 impacted.

— Northern CA northern Sacramento Valley and surrounding foothills: Winter Storm Watch Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon. 4-8 inches snow possible. Wind gusts to 40 mph. I-5, CA-99 impacted.

— CA Sierra Nevada Range: Winter Storms Warnings through early Saturday morning. 1-3 feet of snow expected. Wind gusts to 70 mph. I-80, US-50 impacted.

— Central CA coastal Mountains including Santa Cruz, Santa Lucia and San Benito County ranges: Winter Storm Watches Wednesday and Thursday above 1500 feet. 1-3 inches snow at 1500 feet and 3-6 inches snow above 2000 feet. 8-24 inches snow possible in these mountains by the weekend. CA-1 impacted.

— Much of east-central and southeast CA; west-central and southern NV; adjacent west-central and northwest AZ: High Wind Warnings this afternoon through Wednesday morning. Gusts to 70 mph. This includes Death Valley NP, the Mojave Desert and Las Vegas. High potential for blowing dust and sudden areas of near-zero visibility on the highways. Major highways impacted include I-15, I-40, US-6, US-93, US-95, US-395, CA-58.

— Central and eastern NV, north of I-15: Winter Storm Warnings and Advisories this afternoon through Wednesday. Accumulations generally 1-4 inches over the lower deserts, up to 7 inches above 5000 feet, and 10-15 inches in the mountains. Wind gusts to 55 mph. I-80, US-6, US-50, US-93 impacted.

— Southern CA Ventura, Los Angeles County, Riverside and San Diego County mountains: Winter Storm WarningsTuesday evening through Saturday. Snow levels 1500-2000 feet by Wednesday morning. 1-5 inches of snow at low elevations; feet of snow above 4000 feet. Wind gusts to 70 mph. I-5, I-8, I-15 highly impacted.

— Southern CA coastal areas south of Los Angeles: High Wind Warnings (immediate coast) and Advisories this evening through Wednesday. Gusts 45-55 mph. Major highways impacted include I-5, I-8, I-10, I-15, US-101.

— Southeast interior CA including Coachella Valley, San Diego County mountains and deserts, Salton Sea, Imperial Valley: High Wind Warnings this afternoon through Wednesday afternoon. Gusts 65-75 mph. High potential for blowing dust and sudden areas of near-zero visibility on the highways. Highest wind gusts in Coachella Valley and San Diego County mountains and deserts. I-8, I-10 impacted.

Mountain:

— MT; most of ID; WY; most of UT; western and northern CO: A combination of BLIZZARD Warnings, Winter Storm Warnings and Advisories through Wednesday night. High winds gusting 45-75 mph, 4-10 inches of snow in the lower elevations and 1-3 feet in the mountains. I-15, I-25, I-70, I-80, I-84, I-90, I-94 impacted – many of these roads will be closed for an extended period of time.

— South-central MT Beartooth Foothills and Livingston area: High Wind Warning through this morning. Gusts to 65 mph. I-90 impacted.

— Much of central and southeast WY; north-central and central CO along and east of the Front Range: High Wind Warnings continue through this afternoon. Gusts 75-90 mph. I-25, I-80 impacted.

— Northwest and west-central AZ; higher terrain of central and east-central AZ; western and northern NM: Winter Storm Warnings and Advisories this evening through Wednesday night. Snow accumulations 2-6 inches above 5000 feet and 6-12 inches above 6000 feet. Wind gusts 60-70 mph will create BLIZZARD-LIKE CONDITIONS. I-17, I-40 impacted.

— Much of southern and parts of central UT; portions of western, northern and central AZ: High Wind Warnings this evening through Wednesday. Gusts 60-75 mph. I-15, I-17, I-40, I-70 impacted.

— Much of southern and central AZ: High Wind Warnings (southeast mountains) and Advisories this evening through Wednesday. Gusts 55-70 mph. I-10, I-17, I-19, I-40 impacted.

— Southern, central and eastern NM; far-west TX: High Wind Warnings Wednesday and Wednesday night. Gusts 60-80 mph. I-10, I-25 impacted.

Central:

— Western, central and southern ND; SD; NE except southeast portion of state; northern IA; central and southern MN; WI: BLIZZARD Warnings (eastern SD, southwest MN), Winter Storm Warnings, Watches and Advisories Tuesday evening through Thursday. Snow accumulations 6-18 inches, with highest amounts over eastern SD and western MN. Northern IA and southern WI may see significant sleet and freezing rain accumulations. Storm will end from west to east. Wind gusts 30-45 mph. I-29, I-35, I-39, I-43, I-80, I-90, I-94 impacted.

— Far-west TX: High Wind Watches this evening through Wednesday evening. Gusts to 75 mph. I-10, I-20 impacted.

— TX and OK Panhandles: Wind Advisories today. Gusts to 55 mph. I-27, I-40 impacted.

— TX and OK Panhandles: High Wind Watches Wednesday afternoon and evening. Gusts to 65 mph. I-27, I-40 impacted.

— North-central TX; central OK: Isolated severe thunderstorms with damaging wind and hail possible late tonight into early Wednesday morning. I-20, I-35, I-40, I-44 potentially impacted.

— Central and northeast OK; southeast KS; northwest AR; western and northern MO: Severe thunderstorms possible Wednesday morning through afternoon. Damaging winds are the main threat. I-35, I-40, I-44, I-70 potentially impacted.

— Northeast MO; northwest and northern IL; adjacent northwest IN: Slight risk of Flash Flooding Wednesday and Wednesday night. Up to 2-3 inches of rainfall possible. I-39, I-55, I-57, I-69, I-74, I-80, I-88, IN Toll Road potentially impacted.

Eastern:

— MI Lower Peninsula: Winter Storm Watch this evening through Thursday morning. Up to 4-6 inches of snow. Significant freezing rain and sleet, especially in the southern part of the state also possible. Wind gusts to 40 mph. I-69, I-75, I-94, I-96 impacted.

— Northern IN: Slight risk of Flash Flooding Wednesday and Wednesday night. Up to 2-3 inches of rainfall possible. I-65, I-69, I-90 impacted.

— Northern and northwest VA; DC; MD except Eastern Shore; northeast WV; south-central PA: Wind Advisory Tuesday afternoon and evening. Gusts to 50 mph. I-64, I-66, I-70, I-76, I-78, I-81, I-83, I-99, PA Turnpike impacted.

— Northern NY Adirondack Mountains: Winter Weather Advisory this afternoon and evening. 2-5 inches snow.

— Southeast VT: Winter Weather Advisory this afternoon and evening above 1500 feet. 2-4 inches snow expected. US-7 impacted.

— Northern NY north of I-90, VT; NH except for far-south; southern and western ME: Winter Storm Watches Wednesday evening through Thursday afternoon. 7 inches or more of snow. Sleet and freezing rain, especially in the southern portions of this region. I-81, I-87, I-89, I-91, I-93, I-95 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

National Weather Service Warnings, Watches and Advisories Tuesday morning 21 February 2023
Click on graphic for real-time updates
Wind gusts this afternoon 21 February
Severe thunderstorm risk this afternoon (northeast) and tonight (southern Plains) 21 February
Likelihood of winter weather impacting RV travel today 21 February (west)
Likelihood of winter weather impacting RV travel today 21 February (east)
Wind gusts Wednesday afternoon 22 February
Severe thunderstorm risk Wednesday 22 February
Flash Flooding risk Wednesday 22 February
Freezing rain (ice) accumulation Wednesday and Wednesday night 22 February
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Wednesday afternoon temperatures
90’s in southern Texas and -15 deg F in North Dakota
Likelihood of winter weather impacting RV travel Wednesday 22 February (west)
Likelihood of winter weather impacting RV travel Wednesday 22 February (east)
Wind gusts Thursday afternoon 23 February
Likelihood of winter weather impacting RV travel Thursday 23 February (west)
Likelihood of winter weather impacting RV travel Thursday 23 February (east)
Total snowfall accumulation through Thursday night 23 February
Total precipitation amounts through Thursday night 23 February