Travel & RV Weather Forecast Wednesday 22 February

** Heads Up ** Avoid travel in the West, Southwest and Rockies today 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, New Mexico and west Texas, will produce dust-storms with zero visibility. Do not drive or tow through these conditions if you can avoid it. BLIZZARD Warnings for the southern California mountains and passes, including I-5 / Grapevine, starting Thursday night.

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 California and Southwest deserts and west Texas
- Snow sleet and freezing rain, accompanied by Blizzard and Ice Storm Warnings, across the Plains, Great Lakes, northern New York, and New England.
- Southern California has another cold, strong storm starting Thursday night that will bring Blizzard conditions to the mountains.

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Pacific:

— Coastal WA and Olympic Peninsula: Winter Weather Advisories through tonight. 1-3 inches snow along the immediate coast and 3-9 inches in the mountains. Parts of US-101 could see 4-6 inches snow. US-101 impacted.

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

— Northeast OR and adjacent southeast WA: Winter Weather Advisory through this morning for the Blue Mountains. An additional 2-4 inches snow is likely. I-84 impacted.

— Western OR; north-central and northwest CA: Winter Storm Warnings and Advisories through tonight. Snow down to sea level, with significant snowfall above 1500-2000 feet. Siskiyou Pass and Grants Pass impacted. Wind gusts to 45 mph. I-5, US-101 impacted.

— Northern CA northern and central Sacramento Valley, and surrounding foothills: Winter Storm Watch Thursday afternoon through Friday afternoon. 1-6 inches snow possible. Wind gusts 30-40 mph. I-5, CA-99 impacted.

— CA Sierra Nevada Range: Winter Storms Warnings through early Saturday morning. 1-4 feet of snow expected. Wind gusts 50-70 mph. I-80, US-50 impacted.

— Northern and central CA Coastal Ranges above 1500 feet: A combination of Winter Storm Watches and Advisories through Friday morning. A dusting to a few inches of snow down to 1500 feet. Up to 8-12 inches of snow possible above 3000 feet. CA-1 impacted.

— Most of central and eastern NV, north of I-15: Winter Storm Warnings and Advisories continue today. An inch or two additional accumulation possible. Wind gusts to 40 mph. I-80, US-6, US-50, US-93 impacted.

— Much of west-central and southwest NV; Mono County CA: Winter Storm Watches Thursday night through Saturday night. 12-20 inches snow and wind gusts to 50 mph. High snow amounts and wind gusts on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada. I-80, US-6, US-50, US-95, US-395 impacted.

— Central and southern CA coasts from north of the Bay Area to the Mexico Border: High Wind Warnings and Advisories today. High winds end from north to south starting this morning. Wind gusts generally up to 50 mph. I-5, I-8, I-10, I-15, US-101, CA-1 impacted.

— East-central CA; southwest and southern NV: Wind Advisory this morning. Gusts to 50 mph. I-15, US-6, US-93, US-95, US-395 impacted.

— Southeast CA: Winter Storm Watch for the Owens Valley and Death Valley National Park (above 4000 feet) late Thursday through late Saturday. 6-12 inches of snow in Owens Valley, 8-16 inches snow in Death Valley NP and wind gusts 50-55 mph. US-395 impacted.

— Southern CA Interior Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles County mountains: BLIZZARD Warnings Thursday night through Saturday. 6-12 inches above 2000 feet, 2-5 feet of snow above 4000 feet and wind gusts to 75 mph. I-5 / Grapevine highly impacted and will likely cos.

— 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.

— Much of southern CA interior deserts including Coachella Valley, San Diego County mountains and deserts, Salton Sea, Imperial Valley: High Wind Warnings and Blowing Dust Advisories today. Gusts 60-75 mph. Be prepared for sudden and dangerous drops in visibility to near zero in dust along the highways. Major highways impacted include I-8, I-10, I-15, I-40, US-93, US-95, US-395, CA-58.

Mountain:

— Central and southern MT: Winter Storm Warnings (south) and Advisories today and tonight. A few additional inches of snow, winds to 35 mph and wind chill values as low as -35 deg F. I-15, I-90, I-94 impacted.

— WY except for the Tetons and Yellowstone; most of UT; northern, central and western CO: BLIZZARD (central WY, south-central CO) and Winter Storm Warnings through tonight. Snow accumulations mostly 3-9 inches. Wind gusts 30-45 mph and wind chill values as low as -40 deg F. I-15, I-25, I-70, I-76, 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 through tonight. Snow accumulations 2-6 inches above 5000 feet and 6-12 inches above 6000 feet. Wind gusts 40-70 mph will create BLIZZARD-LIKE CONDITIONS. I-17, I-40 impacted.

— Central and south-central UT; north-central, northeast and east-central AZ: High Wind Warnings and Advisories today. Gusts 50-75 mph. Strongest winds this morning. I-40, I-70 impacted.

— Much of western, west-central and southern AZ: High Wind Warnings and Advisories today. Gusts 50-70 mph. Be prepared for sudden and dangerous drops in visibility to near zero in dust along the highways. I-10, I-17, I-19, I-40 impacted.

— NM along and east of I-25; far-west TX: High Wind Warnings today and tonight. Gusts 60-80 mph. Be prepared for sudden and dangerous drops in visibility to near zero in dust along the highways. I-10, I-25, I-40 impacted.

Central:

— Western TX; TX and OK Panhandles; southwest KS: High Wind Warnings and Advisories through tonight. Wind gusts 55-80 mph. I-10, I-20, I-27, I-40 impacted.

— Southern ND; central and southern MN; WI; SD; most of NE; central and southern IA; northern IL: Winter Storm Warnings and Advisories through Thursday. Snow will mix with sleet and freezing rain in the southern portions. Snow accumulations generally 5-12 inches. Wind gusts to 40 mph. I-29, I-35, I-39, I-43, I-80, I-88, I-90, I-94 impacted.

— Southeast ND; eastern SD; portions of central, southeast and south-central MN: BLIZZARD Warnings through midday Thursday. 10-13 inches snow and wind gusts to 40 mph. I-29, I-90, I-94 impacted.

— Central and east-central IA; along the WI/IL border: ICE STORM Warnings through midday Thursday. Ice accumulations may reach 1/3 to 2/3 of an inch. Wind gusts to 45 mph. I-39, I-43, I-90 I-380 (IA) impacted.

— Eastern TX; eastern OK; LA; AR; western and northern MS; western and central TN; western KY; southwest MO; southern and southeast IL: Wind Advisories through this evening. Wind gusts 35-45 mph. I-10, I-12, I-20, I-22, I-24, I-30, I-40, I-44, I-49, I-55, I-64, I-70 impacted.

— Northern AR; southeast MO; southern and west-central IL: Slight risk of severe thunderstorms with scattered damaging winds this morning and afternoon. I-40, I-44, I-55, I-57, I-70, I-74 potentially impacted.

— Northeast MO; northwest and northern IL; northern IN: Slight risk of Flash Flooding this afternoon and tonight. Up to 1-2 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: Winter Storm Warnings this morning through Thursday evening. 4-6 inches snow Lower Peninsula and 8-16 inches snow Upper Peninsula. Wind gusts to 45 mph. I-69, I-75, I-94, I-96 impacted.

— Southern MI: ICE STORM Warnings this morning and tonight. Up to 1/2 inch freezing rain (ice) accumulation possible. Wind gusts to 45 mph. I-69, I-75, I-94, I-96 impacted.

— Northern IN and adjacent southern MI: Slight risk of Flash Flooding this afternoon and tonight. 1-2 inches of rainfall possible. I-65, I-69, I-90, IN Toll Road impacted.

— Southern and central IN; southwest OH; central KY: Wind Advisories through this evening. Gusts to 45 mph. I-64, I-65, I-69, I-70, I-71, I-74, I-75 impacted.

— Eastern TN along the NC border: Wind Advisory this afternoon and tonight. Gusts to 50 mph. I-26, I-40 impacted.

— Northeast and east-central OH; most of PA except southwest and southeast portions of state; far-west MD; western, central and southern NY except Hudson Valley, NYC and Long Island; southern VT; northern CT; central and western MA; southern and central NH; southeast ME: Winter Weather Advisories through this afternoon. Mixed precipitation. Accumulation will range from less than 1/2 inch over OH and much of PA to 2-5 inches in NY. I-68, I-70, I-71, I-76, I-77, I-79, I-80, I-81, I-84, I-87, I-88, I-89, I-90, I-91, I-93, I-95, I-99, NY Thruway, Mass, PA and OH Turnpikes impacted.

— Northern NY; central and northern Vt; northern NH; central and southern ME away from the coast: Winter Storm Warnings this evening through Thursday 7-12 inches snow. 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 Wednesday morning 22 February 2023
Click on graphic for real-time updates
Wind gusts this afternoon 22 February
Severe thunderstorm risk today 22 February
Freezing rain (ice) accumulations today and tonight 22 February
Flash Flood risk today and tonight 22 February
Likelihood of winter weather impacting RV travel today or tonight 22 February (west)
Likelihood of winter weather impacting RV travel today or tonight 22 February (east)
Wind gusts Thursday afternoon 23 February
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Temperatures Thursday afternoon 23 February
Lower 90’s in south Texas and -10 deg F due north in North Dakota
Likelihood of winter weather impacting RV travel Thursday 23 February (west)
Likelihood of winter weather impacting RV travel Thursday 23 February (east)
Wind gusts Friday afternoon 24 February
Likelihood of winter weather impacting RV travel Friday 24 February
Total snowfall accumulations through Friday 24 February
Total precipitation amounts through Friday night 24 February
Note 4-6+ inches precipitation over the Southern California mountains.