Snow in the forecast: Cold temps, winter storm warnings coming for Northeast

Colder weather will descend on much of the East Coast late this week and a winter storm will bring both rain and snow that could reach up to a foot at higher elevations in parts of the Northeast, forecasters said.

Temperatures across much of the eastern part of the country will drop from highs in the 60s and 70s on Wednesday to the 40s and 50s on Thursday, the weather service said. Even Florida and parts of the southeast will feel some chill: temperatures 5-15 degrees below average could be felt through Friday, according to AccuWeather.

While rain is likely across the Northeast later Wednesday into Thursday, there is a high probability for at least 4 inches of snow by Friday night in northeast Pennsylvania and the southern Catskills of New York, the National Weather Service said.

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"Impactful snowfall" will also reach the Allegheny Mountains at higher elevations in West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, the weather service said. There, snow could total up to 1 foot.

"Travel could be difficult. Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous," the weather service in Albany, New York, said as it declared a winter weather advisory between Thursday afternoon and early Saturday morning.

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The storm will bring some relief to what has been an unusually dry spell for the region, from Virginia up through New England. There, red flag wildfire warnings have been issued and New York City declared its first drought warning in over two decades.

“Before the snow arrives, we’ll see some much-needed rain to help with the brush fires and drought conditions," AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said.

Winter weather advisories were in effect Wednesday in pockets of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky and North Carolina.

Great Plains region sees 'near blizzard' conditions

Heavy snow and gusty winds were creating hazardous conditions in the central part of the country Wednesday. "Near blizzard" conditions throughout the northern Plains are coming from a slow-moving low pressure system near the Minnesota-North Dakota border, the weather service said.

Snowfall totals across the Dakotas and northwest Minnesota could be up to 4 inches. High winds will be more widespread, and reach as far as eastern Montana and Nebraska. Gusts could exceed 60 mph through Wednesday night before weakening and calming into Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Pacific Northwest faces a dangerous "bomb cyclone" and an atmospheric river.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Winter storm warnings bring snow to forecast for Northeast this week