A mammoth and multifaceted storm is slamming the eastern half of the United States with powerful winds, blizzard conditions and severe thunderstorms for the second consecutive day. The near-record strong March storm reached the East Coast early Wednesday after delivering deadly thunderstorms and whipping up choking dust and fast-spreading wildfires in the central and southern US Tuesday.

Powerful storms that killed two people in Mississippi and ripped roofs from buildings in a small Oklahoma town charged across the nation, threatening more communities Wednesday in the central to eastern United States with wide-ranging weather.

A mammoth and multifaceted storm – which was dealing wind, fire, choking dust and the threat of a blizzard – is pummeling much of the country as it marched east overnight.

A 71-mph wind gust was recorded early Tuesday at Topeka's Forbes Field as forecasters predicted sustained high winds and possible blizzard conditions.

Dust storms blinded drivers in the Southwest, tornadoes were possible in the South and blizzard conditions descended on the Central Plains.

The winter storm could impact up to 170 million people across more than 20 states from the southern Plains to the Midwest and East, AccuWeather said.

Two storms are targeting the country, with one bringing heavy rain to the East Coast and the second dropping snow and rain in the West.