Up to 59 million from Texas to Michigan are under severe storm risk as heavy rains, flash flooding and strong tornadoes are forecast to hit the lower Ohio Valley and the mid-South.

By Wednesday, an area encompassing 70 million people from Texas to Illinois and Ohio will be in the storm's crosshairs. Meanwhile, a late-season winter storm on Tuesday unloaded heavy snow and gusty winds across the northern Plains,

Tens of millions of people in the central part of the country are on high alert due to severe weather. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued its highest warning level for severe thunderstorm spanning six states.

A life-threatening outbreak of long-lived and strong tornadoes is expected today in parts of the central and eastern US from a powerful, wide-reaching spring storm.

As thunderstorms threatened to hit parts of the Midwest and South, forecasters warned of flash flooding and tornadoes.

Multiple tornadoes were reported to have touched down across parts of the South and the Midwest on Wednesday, knocking down trees, disrupting power and damaging homes and business