Fast moving winter storm and possible 'bomb cyclone' set to sweep across the country as 40 million Americans are placed on alert
Up to two feet of snow and wind gusts up to 60mph are expected in parts of the Midwest and Northeast over the coming days as the winter storm makes its way across the US.
More than 40 million Americans have been placed under an alert ahead of a huge winter storm which is set to barrel across the country and dump up to two feet of snow in some parts.
Treacherous conditions are forecast through Monday, with meteorologists warning of the potential of a 'bomb cyclone' as a cold arctic front clashes with warmer air.
Blizzard warnings are in effect from North Dakota down to southern Minnesota and Iowa, with three to eight inches of snow and gusts up to 45mph expected.
'We are anticipating some pretty big snows over the next 24 hours, especially across east central Minnesota to northern Wisconsin to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan,' NWS Lead Forecaster Bob Oravec told NPR on Sunday.
The conditions are likely to create a whiteout and near-zero visibility in the affected areas sparking fears of further travel chaos.
Travel disruptions are expected to continue into tomorrow at least as the new storm front makes its way east.
As of early Sunday afternoon, there were 268 delays and 66 cancellations in and out of Minneapolis St Paul International Airport, where an airport weather warning was put into effect.
At Detroit Metro Airport, there have been fewer cancellations and delays, at 25 and 150 respectively, but those numbers are likely to increase by Sunday night as the storm makes it to the city.
A winter storm set to blow through the Midwest to the Northeast has put more than 40 million people on alert and is expected to drop up to two feet of snow in some areas
The conditions are likely to create a whiteout and near-zero visibility in the affected areas through Monday morning
Much of the Northeast is still feeling the impact of a winter storm that hit just after Christmas and blanketed parts of New England with almost a foot of snow.
Forecasters warned that a 'bomb cyclone' could develop as the residual cold front slams into warmer air. The phenomenon, also known as bombogenesis, is caused when an area of low pressure emerges quickly, bringing harsh weather.
Winter Weather Advisories for freezing rain are in effect from Scranton, Pennsylvania, as far north as Burlington, Vermont, and as far east as Portland, Maine.