The western US, on alert for a winter storm 1:44
(CNN) --
The winter storm sweeping 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.
Winter storm in the US causes hundreds of flights to be canceled for this Wednesday
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.
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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.
Tips to keep safe in low temperatures
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
Watch:
Winter Storm Warning through noon Thursday CST
Impact:
heavy snowfall between 15 to 25 inches
Additional details:
2.5 to 7 centimeters have fallen so far.
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, South Dakota
Watch:
Blizzard Warning from 6 am Wednesday to noon Thursday CST
Impact:
Blizzard conditions: Snowfall 9 to 16 inches and winds at 72 mph
Additional details:
Up to 10 centimeters have already fallen
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Watch:
Ice Storm Warning from noon Wednesday to 4 am Thursday CST
Impact:
Significant ice formation of up to 1.27 centimeters.
Snow and sleet up to two inches
Detroit,
Michigan
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
Watch:
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 gusting to 40 mph
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 gusting to 45 mph.
Wind chill can drop to 25 below zero and frostbite in as little as 30 minutes on exposed skin.
Energy price would generate record heating bills 1:21
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Watch:
Winter Storm Warning until 5am Thursday MST
Impact:
Heavy snowfall up to 2.5 centimeters
Additional details:
Winds gusting to 56 kph and wind chill as low as 35 below zero.
Freezing of exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.
Billings, Montana
Watch:
Winter Storm Warning until 5 am Thursday MST
Impact:
additional 4-6 centimeters possible.
Additional details:
Up to 7.6 centimeters have already fallen.
Gusty winds at 56 kph.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Watch:
Winter Storm Warning until 11pm MST Wednesday
Impact:
Heavy snowfall of 20 to 40 centimeters with isolated areas of up to 50 centimeters.
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