A mammoth and multifaceted storm is slamming the eastern half of the United States with powerful winds, blizzard conditions and severe thunderstorms for the second consecutive day. The near-record strong March storm reached the East Coast early Wednesday after delivering deadly thunderstorms and whipping up choking dust and fast-spreading wildfires in the central and southern US Tuesday.

A classic springtime storm is packing high winds and snowfall in the Plains and Midwest, resulting in blizzard conditions for some areas.

Dust storms blinded drivers in the Southwest, tornadoes were possible in the South and blizzard conditions descended on the Central Plains.

Southern Minnesota has been struck with a blizzard warning from the National Weather Service ahead of a powerful spring storm that could dump more than a half-foot of snow and whip it around with winds up to 60 mph.

A spring snowstorm continues to drop plowable snow in the Twin Cities and other parts of Minnesota Wednesday morning, with some areas seeing 10 or more inches. Due to the snow and accompanying strong wing gusts that are impacting visibility,

Southern Minnesota saw heavy snow overnight, with over a foot in some areas, and strong wind will continue to cause blowing snow through the afternoon. Travel conditions will gradually improve as the wind decreases,

A blizzard warning will be in effect for Iowa as rain and snow are expected over the next two days and high winds will accompany them.