Students trapped during blizzard make it back 1:34
(CNN) --
A winter storm that brought reports of tornadoes, damaging winds and large hail to the southern Plains of the United States is now moving into the southeastern United States and the Tennessee and Ohio river valleys on Friday.
More than 60 million people are under the threat of severe storms.
Weather officials warned of an increased risk of severe storms (level 3 of 5) stretching from southern Indiana through Kentucky and Tennessee to northeast Alabama and northwestern Georgia.
Major cities in this threat include Louisville, Lexington, Knoxville, and Chattanooga.
The main threats are strong and damaging wind gusts, a few tornadoes, and isolated hail.
A slight risk of severe storms (level 2 of 5) extends from southern Indiana and Ohio to central Georgia and Alabama and includes Nashville, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Birmingham, and Montgomery.
The main threats in that region are damaging wind gusts and isolated tornadoes.
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Meanwhile, there is a marginal risk of severe storms (level 1 of 5) that spans much of the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys and much of the Southeast, including Indianapolis, Columbus, Memphis, Charlotte, and Virginia Beach.
The main threats here are high winds and an isolated tornado.
These storms also bring a slight risk (level 2 of 4) of excessive precipitation around the Ohio River Valley during the day this Friday.
Rain rates in the strongest storms could be 10 to 50 millimeters per hour.
There are nearly 25 million people under a flood watch from Oklahoma to Ohio.
The Pike Count, Arkansas, Sheriff's Department received reports of minor injuries and damage to homes after a possible tornado struck near Kirby early Friday morning.
The sheriff's department does not currently have an estimate of how many homes were damaged and the Pike County Office of Emergency Management declined to comment, citing a lack of natural light to assess the situation.
More than 40 storms reported in several states, while California declares a state of emergency for winter weather
California could be under the snow and more of the winter storm 1:55
Winter weather alerts issued for Chicago and Detroit
Meanwhile, in the far north of the powerful storm that will bring severe weather to the southeastern United States this Friday afternoon, there is a threat of snowfall that could affect Chicago and Detroit.
Chicago is under a winter weather advisory from noon to 10 pm local time this Friday.
The city can see wet snow between 1 and 10 centimeters with isolated amounts of more than 10 centimeters.
Wind gusts could also reach up to 65 km/h.
Detroit is under a winter storm warning from 1:00 p.m. local time Friday through 4:00 p.m. Eastern time Saturday.
Wet snow between 6 and 25 centimeters could fall and wind gusts up to 72 km / h.
New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington remain on the warmer side and will mostly see rain.
Inland New York and New England could see snowfall of between 2 and 12 inches with isolated amounts of up to more than 4 feet.
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