Winter Storm Warning: Where alerts are posted today and what to expect through Monday

Winter storm warnings and watches expanded today (Saturday, November 8, 2025), signaling the season’s first widespread round of disruptive snow from the Pacific Northwest to the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes. Forecasters highlight two main drivers: a cold trough sweeping east and a burst of lake-effect snow as frigid air pours over relatively warm waters. Travel headaches are likely to build from tonight through Monday, with localized whiteouts under heavier bands.

Winter storm warning vs. watch: what today’s alerts mean

• Winter Storm Warning: Hazardous winter weather is imminent or underway—typically heavy snow and/or significant ice that will make travel dangerous.

• Winter Storm Watch: Conditions are favorable for a significant winter storm in the next 24–48 hours; details may still shift.

• Advisories: Lower-impact events (lighter snow or mixed precipitation) that can still slick roads and slow commutes.

If you’re under a warning, plan for difficult or impossible travel at times. Under a watch, prepare now and check for upgrades.

Regions under a winter storm warning today

• Pacific Northwest high terrain: Mountain passes in northern Washington are under warnings for heavy snow, with the heaviest totals focused on the Cascades. Travel over higher passes may require chains, with plow operations and intermittent closures possible.

• Northern Rockies and portions of Montana: Periods of heavy snow continue in favored ranges and adjacent valleys. Wind gusts along open stretches can produce blowing and drifting.

• Selected interior valleys at elevation: Brief bursts may reduce visibility below a quarter mile during heavier bands.

Totals vary widely by elevation. High peaks can stack up a foot or more, while adjacent lowlands see slushier, lighter amounts or a rain/snow mix.

Watches expanding east: Great Lakes and Midwest next in line

• Southern Lake Michigan belt (late Sunday into Monday): A Winter Storm Watch covers parts of northern Indiana, southwest Michigan, and nearby counties as colder air ignites lake-effect snow. Narrow but intense bands could deliver 2″/hr rates at times, quickly flipping roads from wet to snow-covered.

• Chicago metro and northwest Indiana: A watch highlights the risk of lake-enhanced snow and gusty winds. Confidence is highest near the lake and in any persistent banding; totals drop quickly outside of band footprints.

• Northeast Ohio and the secondary snowbelts: Watches flag potential for heavy lake-effect snow through early Tuesday, with locally higher totals where bands stall.

These lake-effect events are notoriously localized: one neighborhood can receive several inches while another a few miles away sees flurries. Expect nowcasts and radar-driven adjustments day-of.

Timing snapshot (local time)

• Today (Sat): Heaviest snow in the Cascades and northern Rockies; mixed precipitation on some lower approaches.

• Sunday: Lingering mountain snow; cold surge reaches the Midwest by evening; first lake-effect bands begin to fire.

• Sunday night–Monday: Peak lake-effect window around Lake Michigan and Lake Erie, with rapidly changing visibility, drifting, and slick commutes.

• Tuesday morning: Gradual tapering as winds shift and dry air arrives; patchy refreeze remains a hazard.

Schedules and exact windows can shift as the storm evolves; check your local alert feed before traveling.

Travel and power impacts to plan for

• Roads: Fast accumulations in heavier bands can outpace plows for brief periods. Expect variable conditions over short distances, especially downwind of the lakes and on mountain passes.

• Air travel: Deicing queues and flow-control programs are possible at affected hubs; build longer connection buffers Sunday night and Monday.

• Power: Most outages should be isolated, but wet, heavy snow clinging to limbs and lines could produce sporadic cutoffs, especially where wind gusts exceed 30–35 mph.

Preparation checklist if you’re inside a winter storm warning

1. Shift departure times: Travel earlier in the day where possible; avoid peak band windows Sunday night–Monday morning.

2. Vehicle-ready: Full tank, windshield fluid, scraper/brush, traction aids, and a compact winter kit (water, snacks, flashlight, blanket, portable charger).

3. Home basics: Charge devices, set up battery lanterns, and avoid running generators indoors.

4. Work/school plans: Anticipate delayed starts or remote options in lake-effect zones; watch for district or employer updates before dawn Monday.

5. Health & safety: Dress in layers, protect extremities, and keep medications accessible if roads close unexpectedly.

What could still change

Lake-effect placement, band persistence, and mesoscale wind shifts are the biggest wild cards. A 10–20° swing in wind direction can move the bull’s-eye by several miles, drastically changing totals for specific neighborhoods. Mountain snow levels may also wobble a few hundred feet as colder air deepens, affecting who sees slush versus powder.

Quick guidance by region

• Cascades and Northern Rockies: Delay nonessential pass travel during heavier bursts. Carry chains and check pass reports frequently.

• Chicago–NW Indiana: Prepare for periods of heavy, localized snow Sunday night into Monday with hazardous Monday AM commutes near the lake.

• Southwest Michigan: Highest risk for prolonged banding; rural roads may drift.

• Northeast Ohio snowbelt: Watch for band stalls; short-notice travel restrictions are possible on secondary roads.

Stay alert for upgrades from watch to warning and for short-fused snow squall statements where brief whiteouts develop. If you must be on the road during peak bands, reduce speed dramatically, increase following distance, and avoid sudden lane changes.