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(CNN) -
A major winter storm that brought blizzard conditions to the American Midwest Wednesday night will hit much of the East Coast on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, bringing snow to parts of the South and heavy rain. on the east coast.
The combination of heavy rain and snowmelt from last week's storm could cause flooding from the mid-Atlantic to New England.
New York City, for example, will be under a high wind warning and a flood watch from Thursday night through Friday morning.
Winds of 32 to 50 km / h and gusts of up to 96 km / h are forecast.
"Anyone who dreams of a White Christmas will have to settle for a wet and windy holiday," said New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Deanne Criswell.
"However, the dangers are real and we want all New Yorkers to prepare for potentially damaging winds and heavy rains."
By Wednesday night, blizzard warnings were in place over much of the Upper Midwest, with winds exceeding 104 km / h in parts of the Dakotas, making travel impossible in some areas.
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More than 12 inches of snow could fall in parts of the Northeast from a powerful storm system
Snowboarders ride behind an SUV as snow falls on December 23, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Strong winds in some parts of the US
Winter storm warnings were also in effect for Minnesota's Twin Cities, with 6 to 20 inches of snow expected and near-white conditions.
"Winds can reach gusts of up to 100 km / h, causing significantly reduced visibility in snow," according to the National Weather Service.
A spokesman for the Northwestern, Central West and Central Minnesota State Patrol said in a tweet that police have responded to hundreds of crashes, broken and paralyzed vehicles, as well as 11 bent semi-trailers, between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. ET. Wednesday.
Troopers and other law enforcement along with first responders continue to respond to stuck & stranded motorists throughout parts of MN into the night.
Please take note of any no travel advisories and stay safe.
#MNwx https://t.co/UtVIO32TcR pic.twitter.com/mKDbk0AH9V
- Sgt. Jesse Grabow (@MSPPIO_NW) December 24, 2020
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz authorized the state's National Guard to provide emergency relief services to motorists who were stranded in the winter storm, his office said.
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Rains are expected in the north of the country and towards the south of the east coast
On Christmas Eve, the storm will follow the east and produce a variety of weather and bring decreasing temperatures to much of the Midwest.
Very strong winds will also accompany the storm, with wind warnings and advisories from the Gulf Coast to the US-Canada border.
Winter storm warnings have extended to southern Kentucky and Tennessee, and a combination of winter rainfall is expected.
Heavy snowfall is also expected as the lake effect snow turns heavy in areas like Buffalo, New York.
Places as far south as the Tennessee Valley could wake up to snow on Christmas morning, including Chattanooga and Knoxville, Tennessee;
Asheville, North Carolina;
and the mountains of North Georgia.
As the storm moves east, it will be primarily a source of rain.
Christmas Eve will be wet for millions from upstate New York to the Florida Panhandle.
There could even be some severe storms.
"This storm configuration could easily allow dangerous winds and even a few brief, isolated tornadoes," said CNN meteorologist Gene Norman.
"Especially at risk on Christmas Eve are the eastern sections of North and South Carolina, southern Georgia and Alabama, and parts of northwest Florida."
From the Ohio Valley to the Tennessee Valley the rain will turn to snow on Thursday afternoon.
Much of West Virginia and eastern Ohio could see 3 to 5 inches of snow, and higher elevations could see even more.
Heavy rains that follow snow can also cause rapid melting and flooding.
The National Weather Service in Binghamton, New York, warned residents of the risk.
"In locations where recent heavy snow fell, this could add weight to the old snow cover on roofs / structures, resulting in collapsed structures," the agency said.
The storm will disappear for most in the morning, leaving a cold and windy Christmas in the south, but parts of the northeast will be quite warm.
- CNN's Taylor Ward, Rob Frehse, Raja Razek and Dave Hennen contributed to this report.
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