A wintry mess for the Midwest and Northeast as snow and freezing rain continue

While arctic air is retreating and warmer air is moving in, it's not happening fast enough to prevent a wintry mess of freezing rain and snow across the Midwest and Northeast Tuesday into Wednesday.

The WeatherRadar shows a wintry mess of snow and freezing rain stretching across the Midwest and into the Northeast on Tuesday morning. While cold arctic air is on its way out, there's still enough left to produce wintry weather as it interacts with low pressure tracking east across the Midwest and Great Lakes Tuesday and moisture coming in from the Gulf.

Winter weather advisories stretch from northeastern Kansas and southeastern Nebraska into northwestern Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, and northern Illinois. Winter weather advisories are also in place across southern Michigan, northern Indiana, and Ohio, and into the interior Northeast. Cities such as St. Joseph, Mo., Indianapolis, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Buffalo, N.Y., should expect some travel trouble through Wednesday.

Travel has been challenging this morning across the Midwest and into the Great Lakes. Cities like Chicago and Detroit faced a tricky and slippery morning commute. The good news is that the freezing rain will transition to rain as temperatures warm into the mid-30s in these cities by the afternoon.

This messy weather will impact the Northeast into Wednesday morning as snow and ice continue. Ice and snow amounts will vary, but up to a tenth of an inch of ice will stretch from Iowa into Pennsylvania by Wednesday morning. Snow amounts ranging from a trace to 2 inches will be possible in eastern Iowa, southeastern Wisconsin, and central and northern Michigan.

Freezing rain can make for especially hazardous driving conditions, especially on bridges and overpasses. Take your time and check conditions on the WeatherRadar before heading out.