Spring storm from western US to bring blizzards, tornadoes and showers

Thunderstorms forecast across portions of Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee valleys with tornadoes the most noteworthy threat

An immense spring storm emerging from the western US was expected to form a 1,000-mile front of extreme weather from the Great Lakes to Texas on Friday, spawning blizzards, freezing rain, tornadoes and torrential showers, forecasters said.

Widespread, severe thunderstorms were forecast for Friday afternoon into early Saturday across portions of the middle Mississippi valley and eastward to the lower Ohio and Tennessee valleys, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).