An arctic front and snow squalls will hit the Northeast and Midwest on Thursday.

A blizzard warning is in effect in Erie, Pennsylvania until 1 a.m. EST Saturday.

Snow accumulations of 10 to 18 inches are expected north of Interstate 90 (I-90) and 12 to 20 inches are expected south of I-90. Additionally, wind gusts up to 60 mph north of I-90 and 50 mph south of I-90.

Whiteout conditions are expected, making visibility difficult and potentially life-threatening, according to the National Weather Service’s warning for the city of Erie and Erie County. The dangerous conditions will impact commutes and cause power outages and downed trees throughout the region.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission urge motorists to heed all travel restrictions and delay unnecessary trips.

Additionally, the Erie School District announced on its website that school will be closed on Thursday, December 5, and Friday, December 6, and there will be no virtual instruction on those days.

The Arctic front and snow squalls have hit the Midwest and Northeast this week. Snow squalls are rapid and intense bursts of snow and wind, sometimes accompanied by lightning, lasting 30 minutes to an hour.

Strong winds are forecast along the I-95 corridor in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York City, where wind speeds of up to 50 miles per hour could occur. Such winds could delay flights at major airports on Thursday.

Cold winds are expected to reach the East Coast by Friday morning, in the single digits and in the teens in most areas, even coastal areas. The cold air is expected to reach just outside of New Orleans, where wind chills could reach 27 degrees.

Heavy snow is also hitting the Northern Plains and Great Lakes, with whiteout conditions occurring from the Dakotas to Michigan. At least 18 states from Wisconsin to the Carolinas and north to Maine are under wind and snow advisories.

On the West Coast, warm temperatures reached a record high in the San Francisco Bay Area as Oakland hit 70 degrees yesterday. Unseasonably warm weather will continue across the West through the weekend, with temperatures approaching 80 degrees from California to Arizona.