DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Heavy snow has begun to fall in parts of Nebraska and Iowa as a powerful storm threatens a swath of the Midwest. The snow started in Atlantic at around 3-p.m. The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for southeast and east central Nebraska as well as most of Iowa. Between 8 to 10 inches of snow are expected in Nebraska and 9 to 12 inches of snow are expected in Iowa.

Officials in both states have warned people to stay off the roads during the storm’s heaviest snowfall, which is expected from Wednesday night into Thursday. Sustained winds in Iowa will be up to 30 mph with gusts of up to 50 mph. Nebraska winds will be up to 30 mph with gusts of up to 45 mph.