Blizzard warnings were issued by the National Weather Service for parts of western Minnesota and eastern South Dakota. 7.6-15.2cm of snow was expected, but it could go up to 30cm.
Winds of up to 97kph were forecast, which would probably lead to whiteout conditions.
The Storm Prediction Centre issued high-risk alerts for Mississippi including Jackson and Hattiesburg, and Alabama including Birmingham and Tuscaloosa due to the severe weather system hovering over eastern Louisiana, western Georgia, central Tennessee, and the western Florida Panhandle, which could bring storms and tornadoes.