65 million people in the United States are under alert for the winter storm

65 million people in the United States are under alert for the winter storm

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.