Winter storm brings heavy snow and dangerous cold to West and Midwest as 19 million face alerts

CHICAGO — Around 20 million people across the West and Midwest are under winter alerts Saturday as a fast-moving storm delivers heavy snow, strong winds and blasts of cold that is blanketing cities like Chicago

CHICAGO — Around 20 million people across the West and Midwest are under winter alerts Saturday as a fast-moving storm delivers heavy snow, strong winds and blasts of cold that is blanketing cities like Chicago.

On Saturday morning, snow showers were scattered over parts of the northern Plains and Rockies, from Montana to the Dakotas. This precipitation is expected to persist through the day, with snow gradually shifting into Iowa and Minnesota by the afternoon. The risk area includes Des Moines, Iowa; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Aspen, Colorado; and Jackson, Wyoming.

By nighttime, a burst of snow and wintry mix will shift into Illinois, Missouri and Wisconsin. This quick blast of winter weather will affect the area, including Chicago, through the overnight hours.

People braving the cold in Chicago on Saturday morning were bundled up in multiple layers of clothing as they walked the snowy streets.

“This is early for us to have this much snow and these temperatures, so we’re kind of bracing ourselves for a rough one this year,” resident Catherine Karwowski told NBC News.