There's one heck of a storm system that's beginning to brew in the Plains, and when all is said and done, its impacts will be felt by millions throughout the Central United States.

This storm will foster big snows within as little as 150 miles of Rockford beginning late Tuesday into Tuesday night. The current track of the area of low pressure is likely to favor areas of Northern Wisconsin, Minnesota, the Dakotas, and the UP of Michigan with the heaviest snow. If that's not enough, winds will whip up to 45-50mph causing near whiteout or whiteout conditions in these areas. As of late Monday night, seven states were under some form of winter watch, warning, or advisory, while three states were under a Blizzard Watch or Warning!

Meanwhile, areas well to our South will be under the severe weather gun Tuesday and Wednesday. Unseasonable warmth along with copious Gulf moisture create a very favorable environment in which severe thunderstorms could fire. Tuesday's severe weather risk highlights areas from Eastern Oklahoma into extreme Southern Illinois, while Wednesday's severe risk expands further North and East to include areas as far north as Cleveland and as far east as Charlotte!

Here in the Stateline, we'll find ourselves nicely nestled in the middle of the two extremes. We'll be on the warm side of this storm for the majority of the event, which means we'll be dealing more with rain than anything else, beginning sometime Tuesday evening. There'll be some energy nearby which could allow for a few brief rumbles of thunder, but nothing severe is foreseen here!

As the low passes to our North on Wednesday, winds will strengthen out of the WSW, and blow with authority for a good chunk of the day. Current model guidance suggests that temperatures will surge to near 50° as a result, which, in my book, could be a bit conservative! Should there be a period of 2-3 hours of mixed sunshine, a 54° or 55° reading Wednesday is entirely possible! Stay tuned!!!