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.

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.

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,

A massive storm system is tearing across the country bringing blizzard-like conditions in the Midwest and tornadoes and heavy rain in the South. Now, it's putting 39 million people at risk for damaging winds,