Blizzard conditions in parts of southern Minnesota made travel there dangerous Wednesday morning, the weather service office in the Twin Cities warned on social media. Heavy snow and strong northerly winds slowed travel across much of the Twin Cities, southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin, the weather service said.

The winter storm could impact up to 170 million people across more than 20 states from the southern Plains to the Midwest and East, AccuWeather said.

Two storms are targeting the country, with one bringing heavy rain to the East Coast and the second dropping snow and rain in the West.

Powerful storms were threatening communities across the country with weather ranging from fire in the Southern High Plains to blizzards in the Midwest.