Blizzard warnings are in effect for 13 million people and cover parts of northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and areas east of lakes Erie and Ontario are under lake-effect snow warnings. Significant snowfall has begun, and blizzard conditions are developing as cold air pours in behind the system.

Numerous states are at risk of getting hit by a Thanksgiving winter storm this year, with a blizzard possible in some areas.

On Tuesday at 4:41 a.m. the National Weather Service released a winter storm watch valid from Thursday 1 a.m. until Friday 7 p.m. for Warren and McKean counties.

With upwards of one foot of snow driven by winds gusting to 40 miles per hour, driving continued to be a challenging affair in many parts of Superiorland late on Thanksgiving Day. Traffic had increased speed since Wednesday night when thousands of motorists in what passes as the local rush hour inched their

On Thursday at 10:23 a.m. EST a winter weather advisory was released by the National Weather Service in effect until 7 p.m. EST for Allegan, Barry, Van Buren, Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties.

At 12:44 p.m. on Tuesday, the National Weather Service released a winter storm watch valid from Thursday 7 p.m. until Saturday 7 a.m. for Wayne and Cayuga counties.

Across the Midwest, the first snowstorm of the season came at the worst time for Thanksgiving travel. Heavy snow fell in parts of Minnesota, North Dakota and western Wisconsin -- as much as 17 inches in some places.