For Millions of Americans, the Weather Outside is Frightful

Photo courtesy of AOL news

A brutal winter storm packing wind gusts of up to 80 mph is marching toward the nation's interior today, threatening to pound a swath of the nation with snow measured in feet rather than inches. Officials say 4 feet of snow from the storm (pictured above) has fallen on the Sierra Nevada region, crippling travel.

Nearly 40 million people in more than a dozen states are facing foul weather warnings or watches today. Blizzard or winter storm warnings are in effect for parts of Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, and Nebraska.

This particular storm system is not expected to have a big impact on Michigan. Forecasters don’t expect snow in the Lansing area until at least Saturday.

"This system will then stall across the central Plains into Thursday, producing several days of heavy snow and blowing snow, including blizzard conditions, and freezing rain extending into the Upper Midwest. Severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and flooding will be possible in the South," the National Weather Service said in its advisory.