Watch how a fire crew saved a driver stranded in a flood 1:05
(CNN) --
The United States is once again poised to deal with a variety of brutal weather conditions this Thursday, as storms are poised to bring heavy snow to the Southwest and bring the triple threat of tornadoes, damaging winds and rain. to the south.
Nearly 40 million people in parts of the Southern Plains and southern parts of the country are at some level of risk from severe thunderstorms, the worst of which could generate multiple rounds of high winds, large hail and tornadoes, according to the Storm Prediction Center.
“An intensifying system is expected to produce significant severe storms and heavy rainfall that could cause flash flooding.
Think now about what (to do) during a warning wherever you expect to be tomorrow/tomorrow night," the National Weather Service warned of the impacts this Thursday.
The system is expected to unleash isolated supercell thunderstorms, which carry the highest risk of violent tornadoes and large hail, across central Texas and southern Oklahoma beginning Thursday afternoon and moving east through the night.
A moderate threat of level 4 of 5 severe storms exists for eastern Texas, northern Louisiana, southwestern Arkansas, and southeastern Oklahoma, including Shreveport, Louisiana, and the eastern suburbs of Dallas.
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More than 40 storms reported in several states, while California declares a state of emergency for winter weather
The cities of Dallas, Memphis, Little Rock, and Jackson, Mississippi, have a Level 3 out of 5 severe storm risk, while Houston and Austin, Texas, have a Level 2 out of 5 threat.
“Widespread damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes are expected.
Some intense and long-lived tornadoes are possible," the prediction center warned.
Heavy rains are also cause for concern: More than 20 million people are under flood watches from Oklahoma to Ohio.
Rain rates could approach 51 millimeters per hour in the strongest storms, leading to flash flooding.
Rainfall amounts of up to 5 inches are forecast throughout the region, with isolated totals possibly exceeding 8 inches.
The severe weather threat will move into the Southeast and Ohio Valley this Friday, including the cities of Charlotte, Nashville, Atlanta and Louisville.
The same storm system is expected to bring heavy snow and ice to the Northeast and Great Lakes regions this weekend.
This day-long winter storm also wreaked havoc in Southern California, where large amounts of snow stranded some and made roads impassable for several days this week.
A significant storm system will bring severe thunderstorms, including tornadoes, and heavy rain which may produce flash flooding to the central US on Thursday then move into the Great Lakes and Northeast with heavy snow and ice Friday and Saturday.
https://t.co/VyWINDkBnn pic.twitter.com/l4m5eEHrJP
— National Weather Service (@NWS) March 2, 2023
Thursday's threat of severe weather in the south comes on the heels of another storm that brought torrential rain and hail the day before.
A tornado report in Marion County, Alabama, is among more than 50 storm reports compiled by the prediction center Wednesday, including hail and high winds.
Multiple flash flood warnings have also been issued in Arkansas, Alabama and Tennessee, including reports of cars stuck in high water in Huntsville, Alabama.
On Wednesday, in other parts of the United States, heavy snowfall was recorded, flooding the Four Corners region, which covers the area where Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico intersect.
More than 10 inches of snow fell in downtown Flagstaff, Arizona, on Wednesday, according to the local weather service office.
Snow is expected to lessen in Arizona as general winter weather watches expire this Thursday morning.
In New Mexico, the snow will continue through Thursday afternoon.
It is possible to reach up to 12 centimeters at lower elevations, while between 20 and 45 centimeters could fall at high elevations.
Wave of thunderstorms threatens 45 million people in the southern US, with damaging winds and possible strong tornadoes
50 million people under winter storm warning in the Northeast US 2:29
California Declares State of Emergency After Brutal Winter Storm
Meanwhile, in California, back-to-back days of heavy snowfall knocked out power to many people, made roads impassable for days and trapped residents in their homes, prompting the governor to issue a state of emergency for 13 counties.
Hard-hit San Bernardino County, along with Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties are included in the emergency declaration.
Tulare, Amador, Kern, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, Nevada, San Luis Obispo, Sierra and Sonoma counties.
As of Wednesday, mountain residents in San Bernardino County still couldn't access their roads, prompting crews to use snowplows and plows to provide essential services, according to Eric Sherwin, a spokesman for the county fire department.
If a person needs medical help that requires transportation, first responders will load the patient onto the snowcat and take them to an ambulance or the local hospital, he said.
A business was closed by heavy snowfall in Running Springs, California, as residents of the San Bernardino Mountains remained stuck in their homes Wednesday. (Credit: David McNew/Getty Images)
The snowcats "are equipped with advanced life support equipment, rescue equipment and have now been reinforced with firefighting equipment due to the effects of the storm," Sherwin said.
Last week, several areas of the state recorded more than 100 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service.
In southern California, Mount Baldy, outside of Los Angeles, has recorded 270 centimeters of snow since February 22.
Of those 270 centimeters, 74 fell in the last two days and 196 centimeters fell late last week and over the weekend.
Lake Huntington, in the Sierra Mountains, was hit with 144 inches of snow over a six-day period this week, according to a report from the Fresno County Office of Emergency Services.
The bureau also reported 10 to 12 feet of snow near China Peak, causing the closure of Highway 16.
Across the state, nearly 80,000 homes and businesses have been without power since early Thursday morning, days after the first round of winter storms.
arrived in California, according to PowerOutage.us.
And while the state is getting a brief respite from snow through the end of the week, another system is expected to move into Northern California this weekend.
-- CNN meteorologists Monica Garrett, Robert Shackelford and Taylor Ward and CNN's Joe Sutton, Norma Galeana and Taylor Romine contributed to this report.
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