Winter storm expected to bring snow, freezing rain and tornadoes to parts of U.S.

A winter storm moving across the central Plains and Upper Midwest this week is expected to bring heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain to parts of the United States.

Moderate to heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain is expected to fall in the Central High Plains as the storm tracks northeast into the Great Lakes.

The weather service said in a forecast update that thunder may accompany snow rates of 1-2 inches per hour in southern South Dakota and southwest Minnesota. Heavy snow is expected to fall from the Panhandle of Nebraska through southwest Minnesota.

The weather service warned that blowing and drifting snow could cause snow-covered roads and reduced visibility.

The weather system is expected to cause freezing rain in northeastern Nebraska and southern Minnesota. The freezing rain could cause power failures.

The Western Gulf Coast and Lower Mississippi Valley are expected to get some rain on Monday morning as the Plains front moves into the region. There is an increased risk of severe storms over the Lower Mississippi Valley.

The National Weather Service said there could be a few tornadoes.

The weather service has issued a slight risk of excessive rain over parts of the Middle/ Lower Mississippi Valley from Monday into Tuesday.

The weather service said that urban areas, roads, and small streams were the most vulnerable to flash flooding.

There is an increased risk of severe storms in parts of east Texas, southeastern Oklahoma, Arkansas and northern Louisiana.

Nearly 19 million people are in the risk zone for storms that could cause tornadoes, damaging wind gusts, flooding and hail.

Parts of Arkansas, western Tennessee, northern Louisiana, and east Texas are still under a flood watch.

Severe storms are expected to hit the Tennessee Valley and the central Gulf Coast on Tuesday.

Erie County in New York, which includes Buffalo, was at the center of the storm that left dozens dead last month.

The storm was worse than anything Buffalo has seen before, according to the mayor.

The article was first published on NBC News.