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By Anna Skinner
Associate News Editor
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National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists are urging drivers in Kansas to be cognizant of road barricades as a spring blizzard makes its way across five states in the central U.S. on Wednesday.
Why It Matters
Motorists who do not heed blizzard warnings and barricades can put themselves in danger and end up stranded in freezing temperatures, putting stress on emergency resources and possibly risking their life.
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What to Know
Heavy snow and strong winds have prompted NWS meteorologists to issue blizzard warnings in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota. An NWS forecast said that the storm will move from the central High Plains to the Upper Midwest and western Great Lakes on Wednesday and Thursday.
The blizzard warnings told drivers to only travel if there's an emergency.
In the Goodland, Kansas, forecast region, NWS warning coordination meteorologist Jesse Lundquist told Newsweek that people should stay off the roads. If they are driving during the storm, he urged them against ignoring barricades.
"We don't need people getting stranded," he said.
Lundquist added that people have frozen to death in past years after ignoring barricades during a blizzard.
Major roads are expected to be impacted by the storm, including Interstate 70.
"The combination of heavy falling snow and strong winds will create snow-covered roads and near zero visibility at times," the NWS forecast said.
Despite the severity of the storm, Lundquist said it's not unusual for blizzards to hit the Kansas area this time of year.
What People Are Saying
NWS office in Goodland, Kansas, in a blizzard warning: "Conditions can deteriorate rapidly in winter weather situations. Allow extra time if you must travel. Keep a flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of emergency."
The warning added: "Travel on Interstate 70 could become dangerous or impossible due to falling or blowing and drifting snow and poor visibility. Whiteout conditions often lead to disorientation, resulting in a life-threatening situation. Do not travel unless it is absolutely necessary."
NWS office in La Crosse, Wisconsin, in a blizzard warning: "Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle."
NWS office in Hastings, Nebraska, in a blizzard warning: "Despite the wet nature of the snow, very strong winds will cause at least some blowing and drifting snow, with significant snow drifts possible across parts of the local area Wednesday."
What Happens Next
The storm will move across the region and into the Great Lakes on Wednesday and Thursday. In addition to the blizzard warnings, high wind warnings have been issued, as well as winter storm warnings northeast of the blizzard in Wisconsin.
The NWS Climate Prediction Center eight- to 14-day outlook shows that the central U.S. is expecting above-average temperatures from March 26 to April 1, meaning more blizzards during that time are unlikely.
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