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Mix of snow, ice, rain a prelude to bitter cold

Frank Pillitteri shovels snow on Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, from around his home, in Erie, Pa. Pillitteri, 88, didn't need much effort to clear about two inches of snow that fell overnight. The National Weather Service in Cleveland, Ohio is forecasting high temperatures in Erie only reaching about 32 degrees on Friday and a chance of freezing rain on Saturday with a high temperature of 37 degrees. (AP Photo/Erie Times-News, Christopher Millette) MANDATORY CREDIT; MAGS OUT Frank Pillitteri shovels snow on Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, from around his home, in Erie, Pa. Pillitteri, 88, didn't need much effort to clear about two inches of snow that fell overnight. The National Weather Service in Cleveland, Ohio is forecasting high temperatures in Erie only reaching about 32 degrees on Friday and a chance of freezing rain on Saturday with a high temperature of 37 degrees. (AP Photo/Erie Times-News, Christopher Millette) MANDATORY CREDIT; MAGS OUT

By Associated Press January 3, 2015 1 min read

CHICAGO (AP) – Snow, ice and rain is falling in the Midwest and eastern parts of the U.S.

But the weather system is merely a prelude to the Arctic temperatures due to settle in Tuesday through Thursday.

The mix of precipitation affected a swath from Oklahoma to southern New England on Saturday.

A blizzard warning was issued for northern parts of North Dakota and Minnesota, with winds between 30 to 40 mph blowing snow that fell overnight.

Numerous accidents were reported Saturday morning in Ohio and Michigan, where a mix of rain and ice had fallen.

The impending cold snap is expected to bring below-zero temperatures to the Midwest, single-digit lows to the East Coast and chilly weather as far south as New Orleans.