February 4, 2021

Snowstorm with dangerous blizzard conditions slams Midwest: Latest forecast

WATCH: Powerful snowstorm moving into Midwest

A powerful storm is bringing snow, ice, high winds and blizzard conditions to the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes on Thursday.

Snow is already blanketing parts of Iowa and Minnesota.

Emilie Richardson/ABC News
A car covered in snow is seen in Minneapolis, Feb. 4, 2021.
Emilie Richardson/ABC News
Bill Richardson uses a snow blower in Minneapolis, Feb. 4, 2021.

A blizzard warning is in effect for central Iowa. Widespread, blowing snow and wind gusts up to 45 mph are expected.

Multiple cars were involved in a crash on Iowa's I-80, ABC's Des Moines affiliate reported. Officers and ambulances were sent racing to the scene.

The storm will bring heavy snow and strong winds to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Green Bay, Wisconsin and Chicago by rush hour Thursday night.

Driving could be extremely dangerous.

Charles Rex Arbogast/AP
A lone pedestrian crosses Michigan Ave. in a snow storm Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021 in Chicago. The storm will increase already high snow totals and usher in sub-freezing temperatures behind it in the greater Chicago area.
MORE: Winter storms: How to prepare and everything else you need to know

Green Bay could get 4 to 6 inches of snow, along with 40 mph wind gusts that could cause blowing, drifting snow into early Friday.

Chicago is forecast to see 2 to 5 inches of snow, as well as 45 mph wind gusts causing low visibility and blowing snow. Temperatures will plunge overnight in the Windy City, causing any lingering wet spots to refreeze Friday morning.

Charles Rex Arbogast/AP
A snow storm Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021, slows traffic on southbound Interstate 90-94, and will increase already high snow totals and usher in sub-freezing temperatures behind it in the greater Chicago area.
Charles Rex Arbogast/AP
Traffic on Roosevelt Ave., and commuters on a Chicago Transit Authority "L" station experience a snow storm Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021 in Chicago. The storm will increase already high snow totals and usher in sub-freezing temperatures behind it in the Chicago area.

The most snow -- about 6 inches -- is expected in northern Illinois, northern Wisconsin and Michigan.

Overnight the storm will move east. By Friday morning, some spots in the Northeast could start the day with a wintry mix before it changes to rain. Washington, D.C., to New York City to Boston will see scattered rain showers.

MORE: How to stay safe in the cold

An outbreak of arctic air will slam into the northern Plains this weekend with temperatures plummeting 10 to 30 degrees below normal.

On Sunday morning the wind chill -- what it feels like -- could be 20 to 50 degrees below zero across the Upper Midwest.

So far, the wind chill is forecast to plunge to -30 in the Twin Cities and -22 in Chicago.