65 million people in the US are under winter storm warnings

(CNN) — A winter storm hitting the U.S. from coast to coast this week is bringing heavy rain, damaging winds and the potential for a small tornado on Wednesday. More than 65 million people are already under winter weather warnings for much of the western, midwestern and northeastern United States.

More than two million people are under blizzard warnings for parts of Wyoming, Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Dakotas.

Additionally, more than five million people are under a snow storm watch for northeastern Iowa, southern Wisconsin, northwestern Illinois and southern Michigan.

Heavy rain and severe thunderstorms are possible Wednesday morning and afternoon, as the storm’s warm southern end brings heavy snow to the Midwest.

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 possible brief tornadoes.

A slight risk of severe storms (Level 1 out of 5) surrounds the minor risk and extends from northern Texas into central Illinois and western Indiana and southward into the Mississippi River Valley, including Memphis and Oklahoma City.

These storms may also bring the threat of heavy rain from eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas through Missouri into northern Illinois, southern Michigan, northern Indiana, and northern Ohio. Heaviest rainfall is possible from northeast Missouri to southwest Michigan, where 1 to 4 inches could fall.

Winter weather advisories and winter storm watches stretch from coast to coast and affect 29 different states. These are some of the cities in the affected areas:

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Warning: Winter Storm Warning until Thursday afternoon CST

Impact: 38 to 63 centimeters of heavy snowfall

Additional Details: Between 2.5 and 7 centimeters have fallen so far. The first round will bring 10 to 20 centimeters by Wednesday morning. A second round will bring 20 to 45 centimeters Wednesday afternoon and Thursday. Snowfall totals could crack the top 5 strongest blizzards for many.

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Warning: Blizzard Warning in effect Wednesday, 6 a.m. until Thursday, noon CST

Impact: Blizzard conditions: 23 to 40 centimeters of snow and wind gusts of 72 km/h

Additional Details: Up to 10 cm has already fallen

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Warning: Ice Storm Warning in effect from noon Wednesday until 4 a.m. Thursday CST

Impact: Significant accumulation of snow up to 1.27 cm. Up to two inches of snow and sleet

Detroit, MI.Ichigan

Warning: Winter Weather Advisory 10am – 8pm CST Wednesday

Impact: Mixed rain. Up to 0.5 inches of snow and less than 0.5 inches of snow/sleet

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Warning: A Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 9 a.m. Wednesday through noon Thursday CST

Impact: Heavy mixed rain. Up to 10 centimeters of snow and up to 0.6 centimeters of snow. Wind speed of 64 kmph

Additional Details: Power outages are likely

Denver, Colorado

Warning: Winter Weather Advisory 2 am – 8 pm Wednesday MST

Impact: 2-4 centimeters of snow

Additional Details: Wind speed of 72 kmph. Wind chills can drop to minus 4 degrees Celsius and exposed skin can experience frostbite in just 30 minutes.

Cheyenne, Wyoming

Warning: Winter Storm Warning until 5 a.m. MST Thursday

Impact: Heavy snowfall of up to 2.5 cm

Additional Details: Winds gusting to 56 kmph and temperature as low as 1.6 degrees Celsius below zero. Freezes exposed skin within 10 minutes.

Billings, Montana

Warning: Winter Storm Advisory until 5 a.m. MST Thursday

Impact: 4-6 extra centimeters is possible.

Additional Details: Up to 7.6 cm has already fallen. Strong wind blowing at 56 kmph.

Salt Lake City, Utah

Warning: Winter Storm Warning until 11 p.m. Wednesday

Impact: Heavy snowfall of 20 to 40 cm with isolated areas of up to 50 cm.