( CNN ) -- Much of the United States was braced for severe winter weather on Monday , as a major storm hit California while an unrelated first round of wintry conditions snarled commutes in the Midwest . The storm hitting California Monday afternoon was expected to affect weather across the country through Wednesday . The wintry weather , caused by a weak disturbance over the Midwest , caused the deaths of three people in weather-related traffic accidents Sunday and Monday . The first two occurred Sunday in northern California , the area first hit by the weather . A 14-year-old boy died on Interstate 80 about 11 a.m. Sunday when the truck he was traveling in skidded off the road on a steep snow-covered grade , said California Highway Patrol spokeswoman Jeanie Hoatson . A second person was killed on State Route 89 about 45 minutes later when the vehicle they were driving went out of control and collided with a second vehicle , she said . In Indiana on Monday , a 21-year-old man died on Interstate 65 , northwest of Indianapolis , state police said . The man was involved in one of two weather-related crashes on the road as snow fell , and was struck by a semitrailer truck when he stepped out of his car , Indiana State Police said . Numerous traffic accidents were reported in states experiencing winter weather conditions as the disturbance moved across and into the Midwest , affecting Ohio and Wisconsin . Forecasters warned that the approaching storm could cause widespread power outages through Wednesday and make travel nearly impossible in some areas . It may spread arctic air southward by midweek . Some parts of Iowa could receive up to 10 inches of snow , according to CNN affiliate KCCI . The state already received up to 5 inches of snow from the disturbance Sunday . Chicago , Illinois , received about an inch of snow through Monday morning , said CNN iReporter Alan Hawkins . The sun came out and began to melt the snow , but by late morning the sky was overcast again . More cold temperatures and snow are forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday , he said . `` Today 's just kind of a taste of what we 're going to get . '' CNN iReporters in Kentucky and Indiana reported snow , but said it was melting as of late morning . Is it snowing where you live ? Send photos , video . Some snow also fell in mountainous areas of Arizona early Monday as the major storm moved in . Winter storm warnings stretched as far south as Tucson . Blizzard warnings are in effect for parts of the central Rockies and the Mogollon Rim in Arizona , where up to 2 feet of snow and wind gusts of 50 mph could cause whiteouts , forecasters said . Wind chills of 30 to 40 degrees below zero are forecast for the Midwest and the northern Plains , and afternoon temperatures may be in the single digits through Wednesday . The storm is forecast to intensify Monday as it strikes California and heads northeast toward the Rockies , forecasters said Sunday . Winter storm warnings are in effect for the Sierra Range southward to the San Bernardino mountains in Southern California . The area was set to experience heavy snow on Monday , with up to 3 feet possible in the higher elevations . Southern California may get wind gusts of 60 mph on Monday , which could damage trees , power lines and communication towers . Heavy rains were also forecast , triggering possibilities of mudslides and debris flows especially in burn areas . The storm is expected to intensify Tuesday as it moves northeast into the Midwest and upper Great Lakes . Winter storm watches are in effect for the regions , with blizzard conditions possible in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota on Tuesday . On Wednesday , the storm will move into southern Canada as the coldest air of the season spills across the central United States , forecasters said . Many temperatures will be below zero Thursday morning and daytime highs will struggle to make it out of the single digits across the upper Great Lakes , according to forecasters . CNN 's Sean Morris and Ashley Hayes contributed to this report .
Major storm hits United States ; severe weather bears down on Southern California . All zero fatalities happened in weather-related traffic accidents . Parts of Midwest could see winds of up to 2 feet , visibilities near three .