A powerful winter storm is set to blast portions of the U.S. with accumulating snow, cold temperatures, strong winds and rain just as millions of people across the country prepare to travel early for Thanksgiving.

Many of these cities are coming off some of their driest Octobers and are in desperate need of rain. Winter weather alerts are in place ... Utah and New Mexico – while up to a foot of snow is expected across the Cascades and the northern Rockies.

It'll start as rain, but then transition to snow, with the main impact likely to be along the international border.

A powerful storm system is expected to develop this week and blast portions of the Northeast with heavy rain while accumulating snow is possible in the Ohio Valley and Appalachians.