The National Weather Service recently warned people in parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin that they could be hit with winter weather and significant snowfall ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, although the exact timing wasn't clear.

Now, even though Thanksgiving week has started warm and sunny, that will quickly change as a winter storm appears to be making its way into Minnesota and Wisconsin as early as Tuesday morning, impacting travel into as late as Wednesday evening in some areas.

To prepare people in the areas of impact, the National Weather Service officially issued a series of 8 Winter Storm Watches, with the hope that people in these areas can adjust travel plans to avoid driving in hazardous conditions.

SEE NOW: UPDATE - Winter Storm Warnings Now Issued In 22 Minnesota, Wisconsin Counties

Many of the initial Winter Storm Watches have now been upgraded to Winter Storm Warnings, and a new area was added. One area could see up to 25 inches of snow. Please click on this link or the one above for updated information from the National Weather Service.

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Winter Storm Watch #1

This includes the cities of Duluth, Hibbing, Silver Bay, Grand Marais, Two Harbors, Ely, and Isabella.

  • WHAT: Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations between 5 and 10 inches are possible. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph.
  • WHERE: Carlton, St. Louis, Cook, and Lake Counties. This includes the Tribal Lands of the Grand Portage Reservation, the Fond du Lac Band, and the Bois Forte Band, Lake Vermilion, and Nett Lake areas. Other locations include Voyageurs National Park. The entire Boundary Waters is also included.
  • WHEN: From Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday evening.
  • IMPACTS: Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous. Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning commutes.
  • ADDITIONAL DETAILS: A corridor of locally higher snowfall amounts is possible somewhere in the watch area. Blustery winds gusting up to 35 mph may result in areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Storm Watch #2

This includes the Wisconsin cities of Bayfield, Superior, and Washburn.

  • What: Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations between 5 and 10 inches, except between 8 and 11 inches for northern Bayfield County, are possible. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph.
  • Where: Bayfield and Douglas Counties. This includes the Tribal
    Lands of the Red Cliff Band. Other locations, including the Apostle
    Islands National Lakeshore.
  • When: From Tuesday evening through Wednesday evening.
  • Impacts: Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous. Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the Wednesday morning and evening commutes.
  • Additional Details: A corridor of locally higher snowfall amounts is possible somewhere in the watch area. Blustery winds gusting up to 35 mph may result in areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Storm Watch #3

This includes the cities of International Falls, Pine River, Brainerd, Bigfork, Aitkin, Hill City, Grand Rapids, and Walker.

  • What: Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations between 3 and 7 inches are possible. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph.
  • Where: Crow Wing, Aitkin, Koochiching, Cass, and Itasca Counties. This includes the Tribal Lands of the Mille Lacs Band, East Lake and Big Sandy Lake areas, and the Bois Forte Band, Deer Creek, and Nett Lake areas.
  • When: From Tuesday morning through Wednesday morning.
  • Impacts: Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous. Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the Tuesday morning and evening commutes.
  • Additional Details: A corridor of locally higher snowfall amounts is possible somewhere in the watch area. Blustery winds gusting up to 35 mph may result in areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Storm Watch #4

This includes the Wisconsin cities of Hurley and Ashland.

  • What: Heavy lake effect snow possible. Total snow accumulations between 6 and 12 inches, except locally higher amounts greater than 12 inches are possible in northern Iron County. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph.
  • Where: Ashland and Iron Counties. This includes the Tribal Lands of the northwestern area of the Lac du Flambeau Band and the Bad River Reservation. Other locations include Madeline Island.
  • When: From Tuesday evening through late Wednesday night.
  • Impacts: Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous. Travel could be very difficult to impossible. The hazardous conditions could impact the Wednesday morning and evening commutes.

SEE NOW: Minnesota Residents Now Being Warned Not To Travel To These Locations

Winter Storm Watch #5

This includes the Wisconsin cities of Lac Du Flambeau and Eagle River.

  • What: Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations of 6 to 10 inches, with 10 to 14 inches possible in the northwest part of Vilas County. Northwest winds gusting to 25 to 35 mph, resulting in considerable blowing and drifting snow.
  • Where: Vilas County.
  • When: From late Tuesday night through late Wednesday night.
  • Impacts: Travel could be very difficult to impossible. The hazardous conditions could impact the Wednesday morning and evening commutes.
  • Additional Details: Holiday travelers and hunters should be prepared for hazardous travel conditions in the Northwoods late Tuesday night through Wednesday night.

Winter Storm Watch #6

This includes the cities of Morris, Glenwood, Long Prairie, and Alexandria. The storm is expected to start as rain, then transition to snow.

  • What: Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations between 2 and 4 inches are possible. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph.
  • Where: Todd, Douglas, Pope, and Stevens Counties.
  • When: From late Tuesday morning through late Tuesday night.
  • Impacts: Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Tuesday morning and evening commutes.

Winter Storm Watch #7

This includes the cities of Sauk Rapids, Little Falls, Princeton, St. Cloud, and Mora. The storm is expected to start as rain, then transition to snow.

  • What: Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations between 2 and 4 inches are possible. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph.
  • Where: Benton, Morrison, Stearns, Kanabec, and Mille Lacs Counties
  • When: From Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning.
  • Impacts: Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning commutes.

Winter Storm Watch #8

This includes the cities of Cooperstown, Wahpeton, Moorhead, Thief River Falls, Halstad, New York Mills, Mayville, Bagley, East Grand Forks, Mahnomen, Forman, Hillsboro, Gwinner, Grafton, Ada, Fargo, Fosston, Finley, Crookston, Baudette, Middle River, Detroit Lakes, Newfolden, Park Rapids, Breckenridge, Lisbon, Red Lake Falls, Wadena, Warren, Red Lake, Lake Itasca, Two Inlets, Grand Forks, Fergus Falls, Bemidji, and Valley City.

  • What: Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations between 3 and 6 inches are possible. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph.
  • Where: Portions of central, north central, northwest, and west central Minnesota and northeast and southeast North Dakota.
  • When: From late tonight through late Tuesday night.
  • Impacts: Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Tuesday morning and evening commutes.

The National Weather Service says to monitor updated weather in all areas of impact. They also recommend that people consider delaying all travel, but if travel is absolutely necessary, drive with extreme caution.

SEE NOW: The 10 Most Dangerous Cities To Live Right Now In Wisconsin

Consider taking a winter storm kit along with you, including such items as tire chains, booster cables, flashlight, shovel, blankets, and extra clothing. Also, take water, a first aid kit, and anything else that would help you survive in case you become stranded.

Remember, updated road conditions in Minnesota are available through 511mn.org, and at  511wi.gov in Wisconsin.

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