Blizzard conditions in parts of southern Minnesota made travel there dangerous Wednesday morning, the weather service office in the Twin Cities warned on social media. Heavy snow and strong northerly winds slowed travel across much of the Twin Cities, southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin, the weather service said.

The winter storm could impact up to 170 million people across more than 20 states from the southern Plains to the Midwest and East, AccuWeather said.

Powerful storms were threatening communities across the country with weather ranging from fire in the Southern High Plains to blizzards in the Midwest

A line of severe storms will move through Tuesday night and usher in cooler weather for Ash Wednesday and Thursday

The National Weather Service says all of southeast Louisiana and southern Mississippi now face an enhanced risk of severe weather. The New Orleans are could start to see rain and stronger winds after noon.

The Lafayette area is under a tornado watch as severe weather moves across Louisiana on Mardi Gras, bringing thunderstorms, damaging winds and the possibility for tornadoes, according to the National