(CNN) — A colossal winter storm stretching from the northern to southern border of the United States continues its journey from coast to coast. This Tuesday, 40 million people in the center of the country are threatened by severe climate impacts.
About 15 million people in a dozen states are on winter alert on Tuesday. These alerts include blizzard, ice storm, winter storm alerts, and winter weather alerts.
More than 25 million people from Texas to Mississippi are threatened by severe storms Tuesday. Threats include tornadoes, some high and damaging winds, and large hail.
The coast-to-coast storm, which hit the west over the weekend, is expected to strengthen as it moves east Tuesday and stall in the central plains through Thursday, hampering travel amid snow and freezing rain.
Meanwhile, the southern end of the storm is expected to bring late-season tornadoes along with severe thunderstorms.
Here’s what different regions can expect in the coming days:
Parts of the Great Plains could experience severe thunderstorms, heavy downpours and flash flooding.
With snow expected to fall at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour amid strong 40 mph winds, blizzard conditions are forecast for parts of the central and northern plains Tuesday and Wednesday. .
The Storm Prediction Center predicts a risk of tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds in a straight line from East Texas to northern Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi.
A tornado watch was issued for parts of Texas and Oklahoma until 4 a.m. A couple of tornadoes, hail the size of a ping-pong table and wind gusts up to 120 kilometers per hour are possible.
The biggest flash flood threat will be from the lower Mississippi Valley to the central Gulf Coast, Tennessee Valley and southern Appalachian Mountains Tuesday through Wednesday.
Freezing rain and sleet are possible in the upper Midwest through Wednesday.
