A powerful winter storm will batter parts of the US with heavy snow, cold temperatures, strong winds and rain just as millions of people across the country prepare to travel for Thanksgiving.

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The first widespread winter storm of the season is actually the second in a pair of storms set to hit the US this week.

The first storm system has the potential to bring severe weather, including possible tornadoes, to parts of the southern and central Plains on Sunday and Monday, while torrential rains lead to fears of flooding.

The Southern Plains have been no strangers to heavy precipitation in recent weeks. The FOX Forecast Center says 1 to 12 inches of rain has fallen across the region since early November.

It has certainly contributed to the drought situation, but more rain has forecasters concerned that flash flooding could occur.

Winter storm impacts Thanksgiving travel

The FOX Forecast Center says the second storm could have a broader impact, especially as people plan to travel ahead of Thanksgiving.

A strong low-pressure system is expected to form in the Ohio River Valley and the Great Lakes region, developing quickly as the first storm system leaves the US north and enters Canada.

The FOX Forecast Center says this new low will intensify significantly as it moves over the Great Lakes later this week, bringing the threat of high winds through the region into the eastern US.

As the storm drifts toward the mid-Atlantic and Northeast by the end of the week, tailwinds are expected to bring in enough cold air to support a large swath of snow somewhere in the Ohio River Valley.

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The coldest air is at the southern end of the system, blowing into the Appalachians.

It’s that area, according to the FOX Forecast Center, where snowfall is possible by late week into the weekend in parts of the inland Ohio Valley, the northern Mid-Atlantic and inland Northeast.

However, forecasters say there is still significant uncertainty about the amount of cold air available for snow.

There is also the threat of lake effect snow, but this will be variable depending on how the low pressure system tracks, the FOX Forecast Center added.

As it stands now, the air may be too warm to support lake effect snow, but make sure you download the free FOX Weather app and turn on notifications so you’re notified of any changes to the weather forecast.