The northern U.S. is facing an intense blast of snow, sleet, and freezing rain

A powerful storm is predicted to dump moderate to heavy snowfall to sections of the Upper Great Lakes on Saturday before increasing overnight in the Northeast.

The northern United States, from the prairies to the Great Lakes, as well as the Northeast, are under winter weather warnings on Saturday, with a blast of winter weather expected to clog roadways and produce dangerous, icy conditions this weekend from the Dakotas to Maine.

Forecasters predict that moderate to heavy snow will cover much of the Great Lakes Region by Saturday night, with most areas receiving 4 to 8 inches. The system will then sweep eastward.  Snow has already begun to build in cities such as Minneapolis and Fargo, North Dakota.

Upstate New York and New England could get up to a foot (30 cm) of snow accumulation on Saturday night and Sunday. Low visibility and snow-covered roadways made for hazardous travel conditions.

“One good thing with this storm, it is moving pretty quickly, so it’s not gonna be a prolonged winter weather event,” said Bob Oravec, lead forecaster with the National Weather Service in College Park, Maryland. “It looks like the snow will definitely be coming to an end earlier in the day on Sunday, after which the weather will be fairly tranquil for a few days.”

By Saturday night, a wintry mix of rain, sleet, and freezing rain will strike the Ohio Valley and northern mid-Atlantic states. A countrywide forecast from the countrywide Weather Service predicts power disruptions and felled trees. Ice advisories are in force for Central Appalachia, which may receive a quarter inch of ice.

Parts of the Northeast could receive 6 to 12 inches of snow on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, with forecasts predicting heavy snow and limited visibility. The Northeast's largest cities should anticipate heavy snowfall, with 3 to 5 inches in New York City and 4 to 8 inches in Boston.

Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia might get a combination of snow, sleet, and freezing rain, with ice forming in some spots.