Winds and whiteouts? January may not be finished with us just yet

If you thought winter might be about to loosen its grip on the U.S., think again.
A pair of Canadian clippers will bring gusty winds, snow squalls and even whiteout conditions in areas from West Virginia to Maine early this week, according to Accuweather.com, after a brief break in the frigid cold that enveloped much of the country this month.
Winds of up to 40 mph will gust across a wide swath from eastern Minnesota to the New England coast, making already-chilly temperatures feel even colder and blowing any snow that does fall, reducing visibility on the roads and creating icy hazards.
Regions around the Great Lakes, especially, could see cold winds and snow showers and squalls Monday night through Tuesday morning.
Where will the whiteouts happen?
Snow is forecast for New England, New York, most of Pennsylvania and parts of Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and West Virginia.
The heaviest snow will fall around the Great Lakes' eastern shores. Several inches will likely accumulate farther inland, especially across parts of Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York. Interstates 80, 81 and 76, all of which run through the Keystone State, will potentially be impacted.
Rapidly falling snow in some areas, combined with gusty winds, could create whiteout conditions, so motorists are urged to exercise caution and check local weather forecasts. The Boston metro area and other parts of Massachusetts may also see squalls, winds and other dangerous conditions.
Winter storm warnings issued for mountains outside LA
The same storm system causing flooding in Southern California has brought several inches of snow to the region's mountains, prompting several advisories and warnings of dangerous travel conditions as roads become icy.
The system is set to move over the region through Tuesday before leaving a cold air mass in place over the coming days, which will keep overnight temperatures near freezing in some areas, according to the National Weather Service in Los Angeles.
The eastern San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles County could see up to 2 feet of snow and 35-mph winds, according to a winter storm warning in effect through Monday afternoon. Similar weather advisories were issued for the mountains in Riverside County and San Bernardino County.
As snow piled up and ice formed over roads, officials announced closures of mountain roads. Interstate 5, which runs the length of California, was closed between Bakersfield and Santa Clarita because of snow. The state's Department of Public Transportation told motorists to use the 101 freeway.
Is it February yet?
January brought cold, snow and ice to regions not used to dealing with intense winter weather. Snow fell as far south as the Florida panhandle and in Gulf states such as Alabama.
The Mid-Atlantic states have felt prolonged cold snaps: Washington, D.C., has seen temperatures 6 degrees below average; Philadelphia 5 degrees below average and New York City around 4 degrees below average, according to Accuweather.
Forecasters say a more moderate pattern will bring somewhat milder temperatures across the Northeast as February begins.
Contributing: Christopher Cann