EDIT: NWS forecast office's are suddenly backing off snow totals. This graphic is now void and no new graphic will be issued today.
There will be two sides to this: Snow and Ice. We have outlined the WI/IL/IA border as a potential area where 10-12 inch totals may be sighted. This map is based off of ratios that may be just a tad higher than what we will see, so don't hold your breath for the 10-12 inches- that is merely a heads up. As the system progresses east I expect storm totals to be enhanced by some lake effect snow by Lake Michigan and a Lake Erie/Lake Ontario combination out in the Northeast.
For the Midwest i am anticipating a widespread 4-8 inches above I-80, with isolated 6-10 inches in the harder hit areas, which would be from the IA/IL/WI border point into Chicago. Icing will play a big and unfortunate role for the Midwest. I am anticipating 0.10 inches of ice to be commonplace from Central Illinois eastward into Ohio and parts of the Northeast. I did outline an area where 0.25 inches of ice may fall, but I put that there as I believe the hardest hit areas may approach that number (keyword is approach).
In the Northeast, there may be some icing close to the coast, but for now I don't believe I have the right to insert that ice potential there, mainly because of a lack of forecasting guidance at this time. The Northeast ought to wind up with a good 1-3 inches across a lot of the region, and 3-6 inches in inland areas. An isolated 6-8 inches cannot be ruled out by the Lakes.
BIG WINNERS OF THIS STORM
I am thinking that the big winners of this storm will be primarily in East Iowa, South Wisconsin and North Illinois. Stick with me as I will mention some towns that are more on the smaller side.
MIDWEST WINNERS
Illinois---
Freeport, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois
Possibly Chicago's far NW suburbs
Iowa---
Monticello, Iowa
Dubuque, Iowa
Wisconsin---
Monroe, Wisconsin
Janesville, Wisconsin
NORTHEAST WINNERS
New York---
Buffalo, NY
Rochester, NY
Possibly Utica, NY
('Winners' are listed from top to bottom in confidence of 'big' totals (outstanding from other regions))