La Niña winter has arrived ahead of schedule as a dangerous lake-effect snowstorm moved through the eastern Great Lakes, creating brief periods of whiteout travel conditions, as Chicago and other parts of the Midwest and Northeast saw their first snow of the season.

F orecast maps shared with Newsweek by AccuWeather highlight which areas around the Great Lakes can expect the heaviest snowfall early this week as “an intrusion of Arctic air is igniting the first widespread lake-effect snow of the season from Illinois to New York, with snow stretching as far south as the Appalachians,” it says.

Large stretches of the U.S. await one of the season’s first blasts of wintry weather as temperatures dropped in the Northern Plains and snowstorms developed across the Great Lakes

Warmer waters are fueling stronger, snowier storms—at least for now. Here’s how scientists think this phenomenon will evolve as the planet gets hotter.

A harsh drop in temperatures is being delivered to the eastern two thirds of the U.S. thanks to a polar vortex dipping down from the Arctic.

The National Weather Service has warned of "dangerous to impossible travel conditions due to intense lake-effect snow" that will cripple travel from greatly reduced visibility.

So, which of the Great Lakes is the biggest snowmaker? Here’s the breakdown: Lake Superior: The largest and coldest lake, its size creates plenty of snow early in the season, but once it freezes, the snow machine shuts off.

Cleveland is experiencing its coldest weather this season with lake effect snow and low temperatures, as forecasted by the NWS. Travel advisories are in place due to expected disruptions.

Several states are expecting the first snowfall of the season this weekend and early next week, including in the Great Lakes.

“Patchy blowing snow” and wind chills near zero were expected in portions of Minnesota, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Some areas had already received measurable snow, including 4 inches in southwest Minnesota and more than 5 inches in parts of northern Iowa.

Chicagoland's first snow of the season was a blast of wind-driven lake-effect snow. There's more snow on the way through Tuesday. Here's the latest storm reports and forecast.