U.S. winter storm kills 3, sparks power outages and tornadoes

A powerful winter storm sweeping across the U.S. has left three dead in Mississippi and tens of thousands without power.

Mississippi was hit hard by high winds that downed trees and power lines, causing outages for 38,000 residents. In Missouri, strong winds left 190,000 without electricity.

The storm brought blizzards to the Midwest, hurricane-force winds to Texas, and tornadoes in Oklahoma and Texas. Louisiana and Mississippi saw Mardi Gras disruptions due to tornado warnings, while Texas faced widespread outages and wildfire risks.

The National Weather Service warned of ongoing hazards, including damaging winds, severe weather, and flash flooding. In Minnesota, the National Guard was activated as heavy snow fell, while blizzard conditions in Iowa and the Midwest made travel dangerous.

Tornado watches extended to the Carolinas and Virginia, as the storm continued to impact multiple states.