6 states under blizzard warnings as residents prepare for April snow storm

An April snow storm is rolling in, and the rare intensity has prompted blizzard warnings in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, South Dakota and Minnesota on Wednesday.

The heavy snow will begin Wednesday afternoon in Minneapolis. The Twin Cities are forecast to get 5 inches of snow and wind gusts up to 50 mph, along with sleet, rain and freezing rain.

In Denver, rain will change to snow Wednesday afternoon, bringing whiteout conditions and up to 6 inches of snow. Wind gusts could reach up to 60 mph.

The Colorado State Patrol on Twitter Wednesday morning urged "employers to consider either fully cancelling work today, or at least allow employees a half day and to go home by noon. The fewer cars on the road during bad weather, the better."

The storm will move into the Northern Plains on Thursday. The snow will end in Denver, but the blizzard will continue in Nebraska, the Dakotas and western Minnesota.

The April storm could dump 1 to 2 feet of snow in Colorado and western Minnesota before it moves out of the area by the end of the week.