The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for eastern Louisiana and southern Mississippi through 7 p.m. CT on Tuesday, forcing Mardi Gras parades in Jefferson Parish, La. to be cancelled and celebrations in New Orleans to be altered.

A massive winter storm has brought blizzard conditions to the Midwest, hurricane-force winds to Texas, tornadoes in Oklahoma and Texas and increased wildfire risks for the mid-Atlantic region this week.

The large storm system also brought blinding dust storms to the Southwest, blizzards with whiteout conditions to the Midwest and fears of wildfires elsewhere. In Irving, Texas, a tornado with winds up to 110 mph (177 kph) struck,

The National Weather Service says a major winter storm in the Central United States will bring blizzard conditions and severe weather starting today through the middle of this week. "A swath of 4 to 8 inches along with very strong winds will set up from the Central High Plains to the Upper Midwest resulting in a vast area with blizzard conditions.