Major winter storm predicted to bring snow, ice to Midwest and Northeast

A major winter storm is expected to bring ice and snow to the upper Midwest on Thursday, with the system moving through the lower Northeast on Friday and ending by Saturday morning.

Freezing rain is forecast to move through northern Minneapolis and Wisconsin on Thursday evening. The rain is expected to reach Michigan on Friday morning, moving into western and central Pennsylvania later in the morning.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for portions of southern Connecticut, northeast New Jersey and southeast New York from Friday at 4 p.m. to Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.

Heavy snow is expected, with total accumulations between 4 inches and 8 inches predicted, according to an NWS advisory issued Thursday afternoon.

Travel could be very difficult while the winter storm warning is in effect, according to the NWS. The hazardous conditions could impact the Friday evening commute.

Most of the freezing rain and ice accumulation is expected in central and western Pennsylvania.

Snow flurries could begin as early as noon on Friday in New York City, though most of the forecast snow is expected to fall after 4 p.m.

Snowfall is expected to continue through Friday night in New York City, upstate New York, New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts -- though Boston is not expected to see significant snow.

Much of the heavy to moderate snowfall is expected to end by 4 a.m. on Sunday. Snowfall is forecast to end entirely by Saturday morning between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.

New York City, northern New Jersey, the southern Hudson Valley and western Pennsylvania are expected to see the most snow accumulation, with more than half a foot possible. Some areas could see up to 8 or 9 inches of snow.

Ice accumulation could reach more than a quarter of an inch in central Pennsylvania, such as in Johnstown and Clarion. Drivers along the I-80 and I-70 have been advised to use extreme caution. Power outages are also possible with high levels of icing.

Up to 0.2 inches of ice accumulation is possible for areas of northeastern West Virginia and through central and northwestern Pennsylvania, plus up through much of Michigan, including Detroit. Driving is expected to be difficult on untreated surfaces.

Washington, D.C., and Baltimore may also see some ice accumulation on Friday and into Friday night.

Across the upper Midwest, ice accumulation of around 0.2 inches is possible from northern Minnesota through northern Wisconsin and Michigan.