The National Weather Service issued blizzard warnings in the Great Plains on Monday, as a system that will bring snow and high winds is expected to ramp up early Tuesday morning. “Whiteout conditions are expected and will make travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening.

A classic springtime storm will pack high winds and snowfall in the Plains and Midwest, resulting in blizzard conditions for some areas early this week.

The NWS says south-central and southeastern Minnesota – including Dakota County in the Twin Cities metro – are under a blizzard watch, with heavy snow set to combine with strong winds gusts of between 40-50 mph.

The same system that is set to cause a severe weather threat across the Deep South this week is also expected to cause a significant winter weather threat from the Rockies to the Upper Midwest. The system has been named Winter Storm Lola by The Weather Channel.

Winter Storm Lola will serve as a reminder that astronomical winter has not yet ended. The system will bring the threat of heavy snow and blizzard conditions to the Central Plains and Great Lakes early to midweek.