New Delhi, Dec. 31 -- The National Weather Service (NWS) has warned of dangerous winter weather across large parts of the US, with heavy lake-effect snow in the Great Lakes, snow squalls in the Ohio Valley, and a flash flood threat in southern California as the country heads into the New Year.

According to the NWS, Arctic air surging behind a powerful storm is keeping the lake-effect "snow machine" active downwind of the Great Lakes.

The heaviest snow is expected near Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, where 1-2 feet of additional snowfall is forecast, with locally more than 3 feet possible in persistent snow bands over the next two days.

The arrival of an Alberta clipper will reinforce cold air and trigger snow showers and snow squalls from ...