CNN
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The deadly storm system that destroyed homes in the South is heading east, threatening more tornadoes, freezing rain, treacherous travel and power outages.
At least two people were killed in Louisiana as the system’s ferocious winds ripped through communities from Oklahoma to Texas to Mississippi.
Now on the cold side of this massive, multifaceted storm, more than 35 million people from Utah, Idaho and Montana to New England are under winter weather warnings Wednesday. And half a million people in at least four states are under storm warnings through Thursday morning.
Here’s what different parts of the country can expect:
• In the Northern Plains, widespread storms will continue on Wednesday, with occasional lightening. As winds gust up to 55 mph, blowing snow will make travel dangerous.
Already, a 700-mile stretch of Interstate 80 is closed from Wyoming to Nebraska, where road travel is virtually impossible. Other major interstates – including I-90 and I-94 – may also be crippled.
• In the Upper Middle and Northern Plains, 8 to 12 inches of snow could fall between Wednesday and Thursday. Cities in northeastern Minnesota could be buried under 2 feet of snow.
• Down along the Gulf Coast, strong tornadoes, damaging winds and large hail on Wednesday could affect cities including New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Biloxi and Gulfport, Mississippi; and east to Mobile, Alabama.
• Central Appalachians — including parts of Virginia, Pennsylvania and the Maryland Panhandle — could see freezing rain totaling one-tenth to one-quarter of an inch Wednesday night into Thursday evening. An ice storm warning has been posted for the area until Thursday evening due to significant ice accumulations.
• Parts of Pennsylvania likely to be hit with a double whammy: cold rain AND snow on thursday and friday.
• Inland New York and New England are expected to be covered by the end of the week by a new storm caused by the system that will turn into an Easter. It will move through the Mid-Atlantic by Thursday, spreading a combination of rain, ice and snow.
• Major northeastern coastal cities can expect 1 to 2 inches of heavy rain over the weekend by Easter and “some light but impactful freezing rain, sleet and snow could mix in during the Thursday morning commute along the I-95 corridor,” Forecast of Weather. The center warned.
Storm warnings are in effect across parts of Nebraska, with some roads closed — including all roads from Nebraska to Colorado — the state transportation department said.
The “one in five year storm” that began Tuesday is expected to last through the end of the week, National Weather Service meteorologist Bill Taylor said.
Residents will endure near-zero visibility, hazardous travel conditions and possible power outages.
