A powerful winter storm will bring blizzard conditions to much of the region today through Monday morning. Travel will be difficult to impossible across much of the region.

"A major winter storm will bring heavy snow, freezing rain, and strong winds to parts of northern Michigan through Monday. Blizzard-like conditions and dangerous travel are expected across parts of the area Monday, so be sure to check the latest forecast for updates," the NWS in Gaylords said on X on Dec. 28.

A blizzard warning is in effect across a huge swath of Minnesota. including the western Twin Cities metro, central Minnesota and west-central Minnesota, where gusts of 40-50 mph combined with snowfall rates of 0.50-0.75 inches per hour will create whiteout conditions.

A colorful patchwork of warnings and weather advisories have been issued as this powerful storm advances toward Michigan.

"An impactful storm system will move into Michigan Sunday into early next week, with accumulating snow, strong winds, and blowing snow," the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids said on Facebook. "The best chances for heavy snow will be across the Upper Peninsula, and the snow belts of lower Michigan.

A winter storm watch has been issued in the Twin Cities, where heavy snow is expected to fall across much of Sunday, while strong winds could bring blizzard conditions to central parts of Minnesota.

We've issued a First Alert Weather Day for Friday evening into Saturday morning due to accumulating snow that could be heavy at times.

An atmospheric river that dumped rain on California most of the week was easing Friday as New York City and other parts of the Northeast could get nearly a foot of snow.