Blizzard hits upper U.S. Northern Plains

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MONTANA CITY, Mont., Nov. 10 (UPI) -- After dumping up to 4 feet of snow on parts of the Rockies, a blizzard started moving across the U.S. Northern Plains and parts of Canada, forecasters said.

AccuWeather.com said the potent storm would spread across North and South Dakota and parts of Manitoba Sunday.

Already, Montana City, Mont., had just under 2 feet of snow, while Crosby, N.D., had 15 inches, Williston, N.D., had 12, Terry, Mont., had 10 and Rapid City, S.D., reported bout 2 1/2.

AccuWeather.com said moderate to heavy snow would develop through Saturday night across the western part of the Dakotas. Winds will continue to build, gusting up to 45-55 miles per hour, and cause severe blowing and drifting of the snow that will reduce visibility to zero in some areas, the weather service said.

AccuWeather.com said the heavy and blowing snow would spread to Pierre, S.D., and Minot, N.D., meaning travel on Interstate 94 would be difficult Saturday night.

Three to 6 inches will have accumulated across central and eastern North Dakota by Sunday morning, with 1-3 inches down to the South Dakota-Nebraska line and into northwestern Minnesota.

AccuWeather.com said the heaviest snow will end up farther north across southern and southeastern Manitoba.

Rapidly falling temperatures could lead to rain changing to snow, producing slippery roads. AccuWeather.com recommended motorists if traveling on Interstates 29, 90, 94 Saturday night.

NBC News reported Nick Wiltgen of Weather.com said intense winds were reported over much of the West.

"Winds over higher terrain have been especially impressive, with a top gust of 111 mph at Meteor Crater in northern Arizona," Wiltgen said. "Thank goodness it wasn't snowing there."

He said there had been some snow in western Nevada, south and southeast of Lake Tahoe and Pyramid Lake. Utah and western Colorado were in line for the more widespread snows.