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The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch for a region of the midwestern U.S. that covers some 7.6 million people on Thursday afternoon. The watch extends across portions of eastern Indiana, northern Kentucky and a large swath of Ohio, including several major cities from Fort Wayne and Madison, Indiana, to Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus, Ohio. The threats from the storm include isolated quarter-sized hail, scattered gusts of up to 80 mph and tornadoes. The watch is set to expire around 7 p.m. EST.

After getting stuck in a snow pile on his way to work, Mike O’Dell, the chief financial officer for Box Butte General Hospital (BBGH) in Nebraska, jumped on his mountain bike and started peddling to work. In a video shared by BBGH, O’Dell could be seen bundled up in a coat, gloves and a hat while riding along the snow-covered road. O’Dell was biking north along Box Butte Ave. in Alliance, a town located in the panhandle of Nebraska, when a person driving spotted him and started to record a video. The person recording the video asked if he wanted to race. O’Dell offered a fist pump to the person in the car and continued to peddle. BBGH said in a Twitter post that it was “his devotion” to the hospital that gave him the motivation to grab his bike and head to work that way. As of Wednesday afternoon, Alliance, Nebraska measured over 7 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service.

Storms tracking unusually far to the north for the middle of the winter will bring the threat of severe weather to Ohio on Thursday, AccuWeather forecasters say. Ohio, which is more used to cold and snow this time of year, is under alert as a moderate risk on Thursday. While flash flooding and damaging wind gusts will be the primary threat, there is a small chance that a tornado or two could develop late on Thursday. Officially, there have been nine tornadoes in January in Ohio since 1950. Most recently, two EF0 tornadoes touched down just north of Dayton in January 2020. No twisters were recorded in 2021 and 2022. Prior to 1950, there were six tornadoes recorded in January in Ohio. An F2 tornado carved a 40-mile track northeast of Cincinnati in 1948 and in 1928, an F3 tornado touched down near Cincinnati.

Heavy snow has been falling across the Upper Peninsula of Michigan since Wednesday night, and around daybreak on Thursday, the snow was accompanied by a flash of lightning. The phenomenon is called thundersnow and only happens during intense bouts of snow, like what is unfolding over the Upper Midwest. The thundersnow was observed by the GOES-EAST weather satellite, which is outfitted with an instrument that detects lightning.

A satellite image of the Midwest early Thursday morning. The green dots indicate where lightning has been detected. (NOAA)

The loud rumble accompanying thundersnow is typically not heard as far away as thunder during ordinary thunderstorms because snow is porous, with snowflakes muffling more sound than raindrops. The sound-absorbing nature of snow is also why it can sound tranquil outside during and immediately after a snowstorm.

A winter storm that dumped several inches of snow across Colorado on Wednesday wreaked havoc on Interstate 70. Multiple crashes involving more than 20 vehicles led to a massive pileup near Strasburg, Colorado, which is just east Denver. “Semis came through here, obviously a little bit faster than they should. Lost control and started just a chain reaction of semi after semi colliding, jackknifing,” Colorado State Patrol (CSP) Cpl. Ian Alvarado told CBS News. “Nobody’s really seriously injured which is actually a miracle.” Two truck drivers were taken to the hospital for minor injuries. Following the major accident, the Colorado Department of Transportation shut down a more than 150-mile stretch from Denver to the Kansas state line on I-70. CSP Master Trooper Cutler told Denver ABC7 that a hazmat team was on the scene trying to contain the fuel spills. Cutler also noted that there were 50-60 other semis parked along the interstate waiting for crews to clear a path for them.

As efforts to clear the crash continued into Thursday morning, parts of the major highway have been closed for more than 16 hours. According to an update from the CSP, the westbound lanes of I-70 were in the process of opening as of 7:40 a.m. MST. A large section of the eastbound lane on I-70 is expected to reopen by mid-morning on Thursday. But the eastbound lanes from Air Park Road to Deer Trail will remain closed until the crash is completely cleared.

As storms moved across the southern Plains on Wednesday, gusty winds and tornadoes brought down trees and power lines, and several homes were damaged. The National Weather Service confirmed the damage to a garage in Waldo, Arkansas, was caused by an EF1 tornado with 100 mph wind speeds, AccuWeather National Reporter Bill Wadell reported. First responders were in the drenching rain responding to problems on the roadways. In Harrison County, Texas, first responders worked in the rain to put out a truck fire on Interstate 20. Officials reminded motorists to take it slow on the wet roadways and to turn their headlights on when traveling in the rain.

As snow fell from the Rockies to the Plains, over 4 feet was measured in some areas. The top snowfall report came from Wolf Creek Ski resort in Colorado where 52 inches of snow was recorded. Wolf Creek Ski resort is located 10,300 feet above sea level in southwestern Colorado. Crested Butte, Colorado, which is located just north of Wolf Creek Ski resort, picked up 48 inches of snow. In Nebraska, Kilfoil Township, which is located west of Omaha at an elevation of 2,644 feet, measured the top snowfall report in the state with 23.7 inches of snow.  In Callaway, Nebraska, located west of Kilfoil Township, 23 inches of snow fell.

A snapshot of the weather radar across the Midwest early Thursday morning. Blue indicates where snow is falling, green represents areas of rain and pink shows where a wintry mix is occurring. (AccuWeather)

AccuWeather radar showed snow falling from Iowa to Michigan early Thursday morning. The heaviest snow was falling in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Heavy, wet snow will continue to fall across parts of the Upper Midwest throughout the day. AccuWeather forecasters say 6-12 inches of snow is expected across northern Michigan and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. An AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 20 inches is possible in localized areas.

The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) had a busy day on Wednesday as travel-snarling snow led to multiple accidents across the state. “Troopers have responded to about 30 crashes and over 230 motorist assists today,” NSP wrote on Twitter. NSP shared a before and after photo on social media as well, reminding everyone that roads are still very slick in some places. The troopers are asking drivers to take it slow and be prepared for a longer commute Thursday morning.

After targeting the southern Plains and Mississippi Valley, the severe weather threat will shift east on Thursday. This shift will put portions of the Midwest and Ohio Valley at risk for soaking rains, strong winds and even tornadoes. Thunderstorms will be ongoing early on Thursday across the northern Gulf Coast to the Tennessee Valley. As the storms move eastward throughout the day on Thursday, it could extend as far east as northern Georgia and the western Carolinas. However, those storms are unlikely to produce severe weather.

With severe weather in the forecast, it is important to understand and prepare for the risks that are inbound. These are five tips that can help you and your family prepare in advance:

• Shelter safety: What to look for: It is important to make sure the storm shelter is safe and provides an escape if the door is blocked by potential debris.

• Access to shelter and supplies: Having a storm shelter that cannot be accessed effectively defeats the purpose of having one at all. Shelters should be as easily accessible as possible.

• Security and restoration planning: If doors and windows are shattered and missing, securing the property quickly is essential. Making sure the property is structurally sound and having a repair company in mind should be planned before the severe weather.

• Insurance and financial protection: Consumers should look at the types of disasters their area may be prone to, to determine if they have the proper coverage in place.

• Protecting irreplaceable property with sentimental value: Some items may never be able to be replaced after a disaster. For these items, it is a good idea to take preventative measures to protect personal possessions that hold sentimental value.

Despite the winter storm conditions in the central Plains Wednesday, power outage numbers have been very low so far, including in Colorado. The state, which has been impacted heavily by by snowfall, had just 619 customers out of power as of 1:30 a.m. MST Thursday, according to PowerOutage.US. Nearly half of the outages were concentrated in Dolores County in the southwestern corner of the state, with 269 of 380 tracked customers out of power. Nebraska, also impacted by the winter storms, had only 28 tracked outages in the entire state as of Wednesday evening. Out of the states impacted by severe weather in the South, the most outages were reported in Tennessee (6,614 statewide) and Arkansas (2,065 statewide).

A major winter storm hitting Nebraska Wednesday prompted warnings in the city of North Platte, which measured 13.9 inches of snow accumulation during the day. The snowfall left multiple vehicles stranded as people and road crews alike attempted to dig their way out of the conditions. A video compilation shows residents of the city, located in the central part of the state with a population around 23,000, grabbing snow shovels and snow blowers for the mounds of accumulation.

The “Snow Angels” program in Denver is seeking out volunteers to connect with neighbors who are unable to shovel their front sidewalks. The service was created to avoid fines for non-compliance of clearing pedestrian walkways in front of homes and is meant to help those who are unable to shovel due to age, ability and financial standing. As of Wednesday, there are 300 “Snow Angels” but 600 homes are registered as in need of services, according the Denver-based news station KDVR. The station also reported that the areas most in need for volunteers include Globefield, Green Valley Ranch, North Park Hill and Westwood. To qualify for the services by the program, a person must be a Denver city or county resident, an “older adult” or have a physical disability and financially be unable to pay for the service. People looking to request assistance or volunteer can apply here.

Heavy snowfall and traffic accidents on slippery roads can often result in power outages, making it difficult to stay warm in cold weather. Here are a few tips to follow if the power goes out during a winter storm:

• Keep all doors to the outside closed, and use towels to block drafts from windows and door cracks

• Insulate windows with black blankets or place blanket on the floor where the sun is directly shining

• Run a bathtub of hot water

• Turn faucets to a trickle to prevent pipes from freezing

• Don’t rely on gas stoves, charcoal grills or other open-flame heat sources as carbon monoxide gas may build up in your home. You should also be aware of fuel fumes while trying to make a hot meal.

• Place any generators outside, away from doors, windows and vents

• Limit non-emergency phone calls

Nearly 70% of the U.S. population lives in a region that receives more than 5 inches of snow annually, and an overwhelming number of the nation’s roadways traverse those snowy areas, according to the Federal Highway Administration (FHA). This means there is a high likelihood that your simple grocery store run or morning commute could be impacted by winter weather at least once. From snow to sleet to freezing rain or ice, winter weather yields numerous types of precipitation that all pose hazards and difficulties on the roadways. According to the FHA, more than 24% of weather-related vehicle crashes occur on snowy, slushy, or icy pavement, and 15% happen during snowfall or sleet. But equally dangerous is getting stuck for hours in a snowstorm in your vehicle. Many people don’t envision themselves in this situation, but the unthinkable does happen and being prepared and knowing what to do can help save you and your family’s lives. “The best thing you can do to protect yourself is to not travel if you can,” AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said, but if you do have to be out on the roads, being prepared is vital.

• Have an emergency car kit that includes a flashlight, gloves, a battery-powered radio, water, extra food and a blanket.

• If you cannot move, stay where you are and don’t abandon your vehicle. It is a good place to take shelter, especially during a winter storm.

• Notify the authorities with your cellphone and pinpoint your location with GPS either on your cellphone or with navigation services in your car. Make sure to tell the authorities relevant information, like how much gas your car has, how much food and water you have and your location.

• If you don’t have any cellphone service to contact the authorities, then it is important to stay put.

• Turning your car off periodically will help conserve precious gas and battery life and reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

• Make sure that your vehicle is visible to others. Using a piece of bright-colored fabric, road flares, or a traffic light behind your vehicle will all help to ensure your car is easily spotted on the road or highway

• Make sure if you have to leave your home, to have a fully charged cellphone as well as a portable cellphone charger for the car.

The National Weather Service has confirmed that an EF1 tornado passed through the community of Waldo, Arkansas on Wednesday, hitting maximum wind speed of 100 mph. The tornado left significant structural damage in its wake, along with uprooting trees and causing downed power lines. No injuries or fatalities have been reported from the tornado as of Wednesday evening.

Residents of the Northern Plains woke up Wednesday to find a fresh layer of snow on the ground as one of the storms that slammed California earlier in the week progressed eastward. The cold side of the storm has delivered travel-disrupting snowfall across a vast stretch of the north-central U.S., which began in northern New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming. Throughout Wednesday, the storm pushed into South Dakota, Nebraska and northern Kansas and is forecast to swing northeastward toward the Great Lakes into Thursday. The highest snowfall totals are likely to accumulate from southwestern to northeastern Nebraska, though metro cities such as Omaha, Nebraska; Des Moines, Iowa; and Green Bay, Wisconsin, have also been in the path of travel-stalling snow.

Road closures are inevitable when it comes to major snowstorms, and Colorado State Police (CSP) officers are warning about the dangers of using navigation apps like Google Map  when road conditions are quickly changing. “Google Maps and other navigation apps have led motorists off the main roadways once they are closed,” CSP’s Limon Troop posted on Facebook. “The new routes can lead drivers down county roads that are not maintained.” During the last snowstorm, GPS lead to many drivers getting stuck in drifts or deep snow for extended periods of time. “A good rule of thumb is if the highways or interstate is closed, the county roads will be impassable as well.  Do not follow the navigation app along these dangerous routes.  Find a town to stop in, a restaurant, truck stop or hotel and wait it out. It is Colorado, so the weather will change in a few hours!”

The ongoing rampant snowfall in the Denver area has impacted travel across the area, including at the hub’s Denver International Airport. According to FlightAware, 178 departing flights from the airport have been cancelled Wednesday, with 444 more delayed. The 178 cancellations is more than 10 times the amount of the cancelled flights for Chicago O’Hare International (14), the second-most reported cancellations for a major hub airport. For arriving flights into Denver, 142 have been cancelled and another 330 have been delayed Wednesday.

The heavy snowfall in Colorado Wednesday has caused havoc on interstates, including perilous conditions closing I-76 in Sterling, Colorado. The storm-related closure left a long line of stranded semi-trucks, as road crews continued to work to clear the highway. The closure on I-76 is in both directions, going from Sterling in the northeastern corner of the state to the Nebraska state line, a stretch of about 70 miles. Meanwhile, I-70 remains closed heading into the evening hours from Airpark Road in Aurora to the Kansas state line, a stretch of around 160 miles. Colorado State Patrol posted on Twitter at 3:47 p.m. MST, stating that the reopening timeframe is “unknown,” with troopers on scene believing that it will take until the morning to clear the crash. Alternate routes to get around the multi-vehicle wreck are “not encouraged,” officials stated, due to danger levels with high winds and slick roads.

Snow totals continued to increase in Nebraska on Wednesday, with several spots receiving more than a foot of accumulation. The top snow report in the state came in the central Nebraska village of Callaway, receiving 16 inches thus far. In comparison, Portland, Maine has received 9.6 inches of snow during the entire winter season, from Oct. 1, 2022, through the middle of January. The accumulation in Callaway is nearly four times what the northeast hub of Boston received this winter (4.9 inches). Other top snow reports in Nebraska Wednesday include Oconto (15.5 inches) and Paxton (14 inches).

An accident involving nine semi-trucks and 12 passenger vehicles forced the closure of a section of Interstate 70 in Colorado Wednesday afternoon. Authorities had not determined if weather was a direct cause of the pileup, but traffic cameras showed heavy snow on the roads in the area and police were warning of whiteout conditions on several highways. The multi-vehicle crash shut down a roughly 160-mile stretch of I-70, from Airpark Road in Aurora, Colorado to the Kansas state line in both directions.

Interstate 70 pileup in Colorado

Colorado State Patrol noted that this is an “ongoing situation” and that an extended closure is expected. No injuries have been reported from the crash thus far. State Patrol also stated that between 50 and 60 semi-trucks were stuck, and road re-opening would take place after wreckage can be cleared. In Strasburg, along the closed portion of I-70, semi-trucks were seen off the highway in the snowy conditions.

This significant winter storm has been slamming Colorado and Nebraska, dumping more than a foot of snow in some spots, before taking aim at the Midwest and parts of the Northeast through Thursday. Stretches of major highways have closed as travel becomes slick and treacherous. Images show how the snow has blanketed region:

GALLERY: Major snowstorm strikes Colorado, Midwest

Ominous conditions were seen in northwestern Louisiana Wednesday, as AccuWeather National Reporter Bill Wadell shared video of a shelf cloud that passed over the community of Allen, Louisiana during the afternoon. Wadell noted that driving conditions are tough through Wednesday’s storms in the southern United States, with heavy rain and gusty winds among the challenges. Allen is located 65 miles northwest of Alexandria, Louisiana, which is one of the cities that was issued a tornado watch until 8 p.m. CST.

With severe weather expected for the remainder of Wednesday in the southern United States, the National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch into the evening hours. The tornado watch, valid until 8 p.m. CST, covers parts of southeastern Arkansas, northeastern and central Louisiana, western Mississippi and southwestern Tennessee. Nearly 2.4 million people live in the area where the watch was issued and includes cities such as Memphis, Tennessee, and Alexandria, Louisiana. A couple of tornadoes are possible, as well as possible isolated hail up to quarter size and possible scattered wind gusts up to 75 mph. Severe thunderstorms will persist through the nighttime hours before the threat shifts east on Thursday.

Severe weather in Talladega County, Arkansas, left behind significant damage in the town of Waldo on Wednesday, Jan. 18. It is currently unclear if the damage was caused by intense winds or a tornado. Video from the area showed uprooted and downed trees, snapped utility poles and several damaged buildings. The roof of one structure had crumpled inward, the tangled branches of a fallen tree nearby, and one utility pole had been snapped from its base, suspended by wires. No injuries or fatalities have been reported as of the afternoon hours.

Traffic issues have persisted throughout Colorado Wednesday, with poor road conditions leading to a dangerous situation in the northern part of the state. On US-34 near the town of Wiggins, 65 miles northeast of Denver, a local reporter watched a tractor-trailer jackknife across the slushy road, blocking off the highway. The reporter checked on the driver before calling 911 to report the incident, also noting that conditions were very windy in the area. The incident came during a daunting day for traffic in Colorado, including in Denver, which is in the middle of its largest January snowstorm since 1992. Morning rush hour traffic in the city was severely impacted by the snowy and slushy terrain, with even snowplows struggling to navigate highways.

Although January is the third least tornadic month on average, according to NOAA and the 1991-2020 average,AccuWeather forecasters say severe weather can happen year-round if the right atmospheric ingredients are in place. The basic ingredients required for severe weather are unstable air and moisture. The Gulf of Mexico is one of the country’s biggest suppliers of moisture for thunderstorm development across the central U.S. For areas such as the lower Mississippi Valley and Gulf Coast states, the influx of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico isn’t entirely cut off in the winter months.

This is due solely to the proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. As a result, these areas are hotspots for severe weather, even during the winter. Following a disruptive outbreak of Arctic air across the eastern third of the country around Christmastime, temperatures have remained relatively warm, on land and in the Gulf of Mexico. The warm water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, combined with the warmer-than-normal air temperatures, are giving the storms that are tracking east from California a boost in intensity. It is this extra boost of warm and humid air that combines with the cool and dry air to make storms across the south-central states more intense than normal.

GALLERY: Major snowstorm strikes Colorado, Midwest

AccuWeather forecasters say 6 to 10 inches of snow is expected to fall in Denver during this snowstorm, but some places around the city could end up with even higher accumulations. This single snowstorm this week could unload more snow than what typically falls in Denver throughout all of January. Since 1880, the city has averaged 6.6 inches of snow during January. January ranks as the fifth-snowiest month for the city, but not every year follows the law of averages. Last January, 13.4 inches of snow fell in the city, which is more than double the normal. It was the snowiest January in the city’s history since 1992, when 24.3 inches of snow accumulated. March typically features more snow in Denver than any other month of the year, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist John Feerick. As of late Wednesday morning, snowfall totals across the Denver area ranged from 4 to 8 inches with snow still falling.

An image from the GOES-EAST weather satellite shows a large storm system over the central United States on Jan. 18, 2022. (NOAA)

The GOES-EAST weather satellite had a bird’s eye view of the far-reaching storm system over the U.S. -- this is if a bird could fly 22,000 miles above the Earth’s surface. The advanced cameras on the satellite took a snapshot of the storm as it was spreading snow over the Plains and sparking severe thunderstorms over part of the South. Clouds could be seen extending from the Gulf of Mexico toward the U.S.-Canada border and from the Rocky Mountains toward the Appalachians. The areas of white over northern Arizona, Utah, Nevada and California were not clouds from the storm but rather the widespread snow that had fallen across the higher elevations of the interior Southwest in recent weeks.

Roadway travel isn’t the only form of transportation that the major winter storm is slowing. By Wednesday morning, over 260 flights to and from the Denver International Airport were canceled, according to FlightAware.com. Of the canceled flights, 17% of total departures were struck from the schedule along with 13% of arrivals. Denver is under a winter storm warning that began on Tuesday and will remain in effect until Wednesday evening.

As snow continues to fall across the northern Plains, snowfall totals are quickly rising in Nebraska. In Hershey, Nebraska, which is west of Omaha, 12 inches of snow has fallen since midnight. In Ogallala, which is just west of Hershey, 10 inches of snow has fallen. In North Platte, 9 inches of snow was measured as of Wednesday morning. AccuWeather forecasters say 12-18 inches of snow is expected to fall across a large swath of Nebraska through Thursday. An AccuWeather Local StormMax of 28 inches is possible in the hardest-hit areas.

Severe thunderstorms are beginning to take shape across portions of eastern Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas at the start of what is expected to be a thundery day across the lower Mississippi River Valley. A tornado watch has been issued for part of the region until 4 p.m. CST, highlighting the risk of intense tornadoes, as well as damaging winds over 70 mph and hail as large as ping-pong balls. Nearly 3 million reside in the area under the tornado watch, including people in Little Rock, Arkansas, Shreveport, Louisiana, and Huntsville, Texas.

Snow blanketed roadways across western and central Nebraska by Wednesday morning as a major winter storm rolled into the Plains, leading to the closure of highways and calls to avoid travel. A map from the Nebraska Department of Transportation showed nearly all of the roads west of Grand Island, a city located roughly in the central portion of the state, completely or partially covered in snow, with several closed roads in the southern portion of the state. This included portions of U.S. 30 and I-80 starting in Kearney in the south-central portion of the state and stretching westward toward the Nebraska-Wyoming state line. Across the border, motorists were advised to avoid unnecessary travel on southeastern Wyoming roads due to slippery conditions.

A travel map from the Nebraska Department of Transportation showing road conditions across the state on Wednesday morning. (Nebraska DOT)

In other locations in Nebraska, the department cautioned against travel amid high wind reports, including around Chadron, Nebraska, in the northwestern corner of the state where a winter weather advisory was in effect, and Lewellen, Nebraska, located in the western portion of the state,  where U.S. 26 was completely covered in snow. A winter storm warning was in effect for the city as of Wednesday morning. 

An image from a travel camera new Lewellen, Nebraska, on Wednesday morning showing a road completely covered in snow. (Nebraska DOT)

AccuWeather forecasters warn a potent winter storm will spread heavy, travel-disrupting snow to more than 1,700 miles of the U.S. through midweek. The storm has already delivered a round of snow to the Four Corners region Monday into Tuesday. Wolf Creek Pass, Colorado, which is a high-elevation pass in the southwestern corner of the state, measured 36 inches of snow over the past 36 hours. In Summerhaven, Arizona, 19 inches of snow fell, and in Bluewater Lake, New Mexico, 12 inches of snow fell.

Snow started to fall in and around Denver late Tuesday, and by Wednesday morning, snowfall totals remained in the single digits. At the Denver International Airport, 7.7 inches of snow has fallen in the past 24 hours. In Frederick, Colorado, which is just north of Denver, 5.5 inches of snow has fallen. In Nebraska, 8 inches of snow fell in Chappell, which is a town located just north of the Denver-Nebraska state line. Just west of Chappell, in North Platte, Nebraska, 7 inches of snow had fallen over the past 24 hours.

A map showing the snowfall accumulations across the central U.S. from Tuesday morning through Wednesday morning. (AccuWeather)

AccuWeather forecasters say 27 million people will be at risk for severe weather across the South Central States Wednesday afternoon to Wednesday evening. A moderate risk of severe thunderstorms is likely to exist from near the Louisiana and Texas border to the borders of Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri. Some of the cities within the risk area include Shreveport, Louisiana; Little Rock, Arkansas; Jackson, Mississippi; and Memphis, Tennessee. The main threats will include damaging wind gusts, heavy rain, hail and a few isolated tornadoes that cannot be ruled out. An AccuWeather Local StormMax™ for wind gusts of 75 mph is expected within the strongest storms. Wind speeds this strong can create property damage and power outages and can uproot large trees.