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Millions could face blizzard conditions or flooding by this weekend

Posted at 10:47 AM, Dec 27, 2018
and last updated 2018-12-27 10:47:58-05

If you live somewhere between North Dakota, Texas and Virginia, get ready for a nasty storm system that’s spreading across the United States.

If you live somewhere between North Dakota, Texas and Virginia, get ready for a nasty storm system that’s spreading across the United States.

“This storm system was always comprised of two threats — one for blizzard conditions and another for severe weather,” CNN meteorologist Gene Norman said.

Already brutal weather has caused injuries aboard an American Airlines flight in Texas and the cancellation of a college football bowl game.

Now more dangerous conditions will wreak havoc for travelers through the rest of this week. Some cities will get buried under a foot of snow, while others will get pummeled with a severe storm or flooding.

Blizzard conditions strike the Midwest

About 1 million people are under blizzard warnings Thursday in parts of Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota and the Dakotas, CNN meteorologist Monica Garrett said.

“Snow with high winds and low visibility will make travel in this area dangerous if not impossible at times,” Garrett said.

The storm system is expected to dump 6 to 12 inches of snow in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota and the Dakotas, Norman said.

A deluge expected in the Southeast

About 24 million people are under flood watches or flash flood watches through early Saturday, Norman said.

Those watches cover parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia and the Carolinas.

Atlanta, home of the world’s busiest airport, could get up to 6 inches of rain by the end of the year — potentially snarling holiday travel.

Fierce storms hit Gulf Coast states

Coastal parts of Texas are getting walloped Thursday after severe weather caused in-flight injuries and spiked a football game a day earlier in the Dallas area.

A tornado watch is in effect for southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana until 11 a.m. (noon ET) Thursday, Garrett said.

“Severe storms including damaging winds and an isolated tornado are possible along the Gulf Coast from Louisiana to Alabama today,” she said.

“Winds will also be strong from the Gulf Coast northward to the Ohio Valley, with winds gusting up to 45 mph throughout the day today.”