The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a winter weather warning for several states on Tuesday, December 9, with snowfall amounts ranging from 1-3 inches to 24 inches across the United States.
Winter storm warnings and advisories say several inches of snow could fall across 14 states across the country from early Tuesday morning, Dec. 9, through Wednesday, Dec. 10, making travel hazardous.
The snow accumulation is caused by two different winter storm systems, according to the National Weather Service. The heaviest snowfall comes from the northern Plains states, the upper Great Lakes, the Midwest, the mid-Atlantic and the Northeast. Although two different story systems resulted in heavy snowfall, areas under both systems experienced similar conditions.
14 states issuing winter weather warnings or advisories
The National Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories for North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Montana, Wyoming, Vermont, New Hampshire, Michigan, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York and Maine.
The NWS’s interactive map shows that more than 24 inches of snow are expected in Montana and Wyoming. Up to 12 inches are expected in New York; more than seven inches in Wisconsin and North Dakota; up to six inches in Minnesota, Michigan and Pennsylvania; and up to three inches in West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland.
Meteorologists are also warning that a polar vortex will sweep across the United States this week, bringing record-breaking cold temperatures. As a result, snow accumulation during colder temperatures will make roads more dangerous.
Science Direct states: “The polar vortex is defined as the dominant winter weather system in the stratosphere and mesosphere, characterized by a circumpolar west-to-east jet stream that balances extremely cold winter polar air with warm mid-latitude air.”
While the snow is expected to decrease by the end of the week, that won’t be the case for the cold. The Northeast and Mid-Atlantic are expected to see the coldest temperatures this weekend, according to research from the National Weather Service.
winter weather terminology
According to the National Weather Service, a winter weather warning “expects at least 6 inches of heavy snow within 12 hours, or at least 8 inches of heavy snow within 24 hours. This warning can also be issued if at least half an inch of sleet accumulates.”
By contrast, a blizzard warning means “blizzard conditions (visibility less than 1/4 mile due to falling and/or blowing snow, winds of at least 35 mph) are expected to last for at least three hours.”
According to the National Weather Service, a winter weather warning is issued when one or more of the following conditions occur: “3 to 5 inches of snow in 12 hours, accumulations of up to 1/4 inch of sleet, freezing rain mixed with sleet and/or snow, or blowing snow.”
This article was originally published by Men’s Journal on December 10, 2025, and first appeared in the News section. Click here to add Men’s Diary as your go-to source.
