Massive Winter Storm Dumps Snow, Spins Tornadoes, Leaves 3 Dead

A huge winter weather system has caused snow storms across much of the northern US and tornadoes in the South. At least three people have been killed. Thousands are without power.  

The system was forecasted to take aim at New England late Thursday. High winds, lots of rain, and snowfall were expected in the region. Accuweather predicted 200,000 square miles of the Northeast will be covered in snow by Friday. 

"This system is notable for the fact that it's going to impact areas all the way from California to the Northeast," a weather expert said.

The storm system whipped up dozens of tornadoes along the gulf states. One woman died after a tornado tore apart her home in Louisiana. In the opposite corner of the state, a mother and young son were killed.

Another tornado lifted a man and his car into the air.

"It happened fast," he told CBS. "I'm looking at wood, buildings, all in the same spin, like it's spinning with me and then it just slung me out."

Across the US, the storm dumped at least two feet of snow in multiple states. More than 300 miles of a highway in South Dakota were closed. As of midday Thursday, the storm had left nearly 182,000 people without power. People in Florida, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin were affected. 

Photo from Reuters.