(CNN) — The winter storm that batters the United States from coast to coast this week has heavy rain, damaging winds and even the possibility of a brief tornado in store for Wednesday. There are already more than 65 million people under winter weather alerts across much of the Western, Midwestern and Northeastern US.
More than two million people are under blizzard warnings in parts of Wyoming, Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Dakotas.
Additionally, more than five million are under an ice storm watch in northeast Iowa, southern Wisconsin, northwestern Illinois, and southern Michigan.
In the warmer southern end of the storm bringing heavy snow to the upper Midwest, there is a chance of heavy rain and severe thunderstorms Wednesday morning and afternoon.
A slight risk of severe storms (level 2 of 5) has been issued for central Oklahoma, Missouri, and west-central Illinois, including Tulsa and Springfield.
The main threats are damaging winds, isolated large hail, and a possible brief tornado.
A marginal risk of severe storms (level 1 of 5) surrounds the slight risk and extends from northern Texas to central Illinois and western Indiana and also extends south along the Mississippi River valley, including Memphis and Oklahoma City.
Heavy rain and damaging winds expected
These storms can also bring the threat of heavy rain from eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas through Missouri to northern Illinois, southern Michigan, northern Indiana, and northern Ohio. The heaviest precipitation is likely to occur from northeastern Missouri to southwestern Michigan, where 1 to 4 inches may fall.
Winter weather advisories and winter storm watches extend from coast to coast and affect 29 different states. These are some of the cities in the affected areas:
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Alert: Winter Storm Warning through noon Thursday CST
Impact: heavy snowfall between 38 to 63 centimeters
Additional details: so far 2.5 to 7 centimeters have fallen. The first round will bring in 10 to 20 centimeters by Wednesday morning. The second round will bring 20 to 45 centimeters Wednesday afternoon and Thursday. The total snowfall could break the top 5 strongest snowstorms for many.
Sioux Falls, Dakota del Sur
Alert: Blizzard Warning from 6 a.m. Wednesday to noon Thursday CST
Impact: Blizzard conditions: Snowfall from 23 to 40 centimeters and winds at 72 km/h
Additional details: Up to 10 centimeters have already fallen
Ann Arbor, Míchigan
Alert: Ice Storm Warning from noon Wednesday to 4 am Thursday CST
Impact: Important formation of ice up to 1.27 centimeters. Snow and sleet up to two inches
Detroit, MIichigan
Alert: Winter Weather Advisory 10am – 8pm Wednesday CST
Impact: Mixed rainfall. Ice up to 0.5 inch and snow/sleet less than 0.5 inch
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Alert: Winter Storm Warning from 9 am Wednesday to noon Thursday CST
Impact: heavy mixed rainfall. Snow up to 10 centimeters and ice up to 0.6 centimeters. Winds with gusts of up to 64 km/h
Additional details: power outages likely
Denver, Colorado
Alert: Winter Weather Advisory 2 am – 8 pm Wednesday MST
Impact: Snowfall of 2-4 centimeters
Additional details: Winds with gusts of up to 72 km/h. Wind chill can drop to minus 4 degrees Celsius and frostbite in just 30 minutes on exposed skin.
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Alert: Winter Storm Warning until 5am Thursday MST
Impact: heavy snowfall up to 2.5 centimeters
Additional details: Winds with gusts of 56 km/h and a thermal sensation of up to 1.6 degrees Celsius below zero. Freezing of exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.
Billings, Montana
Alert: Winter Storm Advisory until 5 a.m. Thursday MST
Impact: 4-6 additional centimeters possible.
Additional details: Up to 7.6 centimeters have already fallen. Gusty winds at 56 km/h.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Alert: Winter Storm Warning until 11pm MST Wednesday
Impact: Heavy snowfall of 20 to 40 centimeters with isolated areas of up to 50 centimeters.