An ominous storm is set to unleash its fury on the central and eastern United States, mirroring the devastating path of a previous massive storm that wreaked havoc earlier this week. As hundreds of thousands of people still grapple with power outages in the eastern US, rivers continue to rise, and evacuations are underway. Tragically, at least four people have lost their lives due to severe thunderstorms and strong winds caused by the previous storm that finally subsided on Wednesday.

The genesis of this new storm can be traced back to the Pacific Northwest, which was recently battered by blizzard conditions. The storm is expected to shift into the Four Corners region on Wednesday, followed by snowfall in the high elevations of Arizona and New Mexico.

As the storm progresses, it will gain strength and transform into a larger, more powerful system. By Thursday evening, heavy snowfall is predicted, covering parts of Kansas and Nebraska and extending into the Midwest. Gusty winds will accompany the snow, potentially resulting in whiteout conditions and treacherous travel. Simultaneously, frigid air originating from Canada will plunge southwards, causing temperatures to plummet across the north-central US.

A significant threat of severe thunderstorms looms over the South, particularly parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Level 2 out of 5 risk of severe hail, wind, and tornadoes for these areas on Thursday night. The highest tornado threat is expected to center from central Arkansas to northern Louisiana.

On Friday, as the storm intensifies and moves eastward, more snow is expected to blanket the Midwest. The heaviest accumulations are predicted for portions of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Inland areas of these states, away from the moderating influence of the Great Lakes, may see up to a foot of snowfall. However, uncertainty remains about the snowfall amounts in Chicago, as the city's proximity to Lake Michigan could hinder the accumulation process. Nonetheless, if the city experiences a heavy band of snow, significant travel disruptions could occur.

While the storm wreaks havoc in the central and eastern regions, bitterly cold air will grip much of the central and northern US. Omaha, Nebraska is forecasted to struggle to climb out of the single digits on Friday, while parts of North Dakota may not even reach zero degrees.

At the storm's southern, warmer edge, another round of severe thunderstorms is expected to target a large section of the Southeast and portions of the mid-Atlantic. From Alabama to North Carolina, a Level 3 out of 5 risk of severe thunderstorms is in place for Friday, with damaging wind gusts and a few strong tornadoes possible.

As the storm progresses, rain will overspread the mid-Atlantic and parts of the Northeast on Friday night, raising concerns of further flooding in areas already saturated from the previous storm. Rainfall totals are anticipated to be similar to, or slightly lower than, the previous storm, with 1 to 2 inches expected, although isolated locations could see closer to 3 inches.

The storm is forecasted to reach the Northeast by Saturday morning, potentially bringing a mix of snow and sleet to the interior regions, particularly northern New England. Strong winds accompanying the winter precipitation may cause additional power outages in the Northeast, where many are still without power from the previous storm.

While the storm's most significant impacts are projected to diminish in the Southeast and mid-Atlantic by Saturday morning, lingering breezy conditions will prevail in its wake. Meanwhile, the central US will face increasingly brutal cold throughout the weekend and into the following week, particularly in the north-central states, where temperatures will reach dangerous levels.

As this powerful storm barrels across the country, authorities are urging residents to stay vigilant, heed evacuation orders, and take necessary precautions to stay safe amid the treacherous weather conditions.