Central US hit by winter storm

National Weather Service issued weather warnings or advisories for parts of Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas

Parts of the central US are set to be hit by a winter storm throughout Thursday which is expected to bring blankets of snow throughout the region.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued weather warnings or advisories for parts of Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas.

“As a cold storm system moves over the region Wednesday into Thursday, rain is expected to change over to snow,” the weather service said.

Upwards of 12 inches of snow is expected in some areas as the storm moves through the region on Thursday, Fox News reported.

Forecasters warned of dangerous travel conditions as the storm passes through the region and that in northern Oklahoma accumulations could be high enough to create travel disruptions.

The storm is set to taper off on Thursday and then push east over the Lower Mississippi Valley and the Gulf Coast, according to Fox News.

In Kansas, areas of light snow will continue to gradually diminish across the southeast counties through sunrise, the weather service reported.

The system is reportedly expected to strengthen as it spreads toward the East Coast and could cause interesting weather in the region through Friday and Saturday.

The storm comes just after a powerful system caused snow in areas of Ohio and Pennsylvania, leading to power outages for tens of thousands of people, Accuweather reported.

Elsewhere, powerful winds pushed flames through Southern California canyons early on Thursday as an out-of-control wildfire burned near homes and forced residents to flee, the Associated Press reported.

Santa Ana winds have raised fire danger for much of the region.

Additional reporting by the Associated Press