A large winter storm that has dumped more than a foot of snow in some parts of the Western United States is making its way eastward, where it is expected to bring ice, snow, rain, and a wintry mix to more than 220 million Americans.
Winter Storm Petra is forecast to impact parts of 39 of the contiguous 48 states, including every state east of the Mississippi River, according to AccuWeather.
That means about 60 per cent of the entire population of the U.S. will be impacted in some way.
So far, the storm has left up to 14 inches of snow in Flagstaff, Arizona while a trace of the white stuff was also reported in Las Vegas.
Snow also pounded the southern Rockies, California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, and the border region separating California and Nevada over the weekend.
Winter Storm Petra has dumped more than a foot of snow in parts of the American West. The image above shows a snow-covered Nevada City, California on Sunday
Winter Storm Petra is forecast to impact parts of 39 of the contiguous 48 states, including every state east of the Mississippi River. The map above shows the cold air which will blanket most of the country this week
That means about 60 per cent of the entire population of the U.S. will be impacted in some way. Most major cities in the Southwest, Plains, and Northeast will be under a winter storm watch, an advisory, or a warning this week
The Heavenly ski resort at Lake Tahoe reported 15 inches of snow that fell between Saturday and Sunday.
Since the beginning of February, several feet of snow have accumulated in the Sierra Nevada, creating an unusually large snowpack, according to the Los Angeles Times.
As of this weekend, the snowpack - the layers of snow that
