The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for southeastern Minnesota, to include Freeborn and Steele counties.

The warning extends into nearly all of Iowa, including Winnebago and Worth counties.

The Minnesota counties in the blizzard warning, as of 5 p.m., are Freeborn, Steele, Dodge, Mower, Fillmore, Olmsted, Winona and Houston counties. Places to the west and north are in either a winter storm warning or a winter weather advisory.

“A powerful winter storm is taking shape over the Upper Midwest. Heavy snow will spread across southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin tonight, with strong winds developing as well. The snow last through most of the day on Thursday. This will create hazardous driving conditions, including I-90 in Minnesota, and I-94 in Wisconsin,” the National Weather Service states.

People are urged to avoid travel tonight and Thursday.

The Albert Lea area is expected to get between 5 to 9 inches overnight, with another inch Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. The real danger is expected to be strong northerly winds between 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

It is very likely school districts across the region will cancel classes Thursday.

The worst of the snowstorm is expected to strike on a line between Des Moines and Madison, which could see 10 to 14 inches of the white stuff.