Winter Storm Warning: 11 Major Cities Will Be Hit Hard By Brutal Weather

A major winter storm is bringing heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain as it moves through central and northeastern states this week, government forecasters said.

The storm is expected to result in "widespread heavy snow" from New England to Texas between Thursday and Friday, the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center (WPC) said in a statement.

Additionally, "portions of the South" are also at risk from flash flooding and severe weather, according to the weather forecasting service.

At least 11 major cities in Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas will be affected by the storm, CNN reported.

The winter storm could last up to either Thursday or Friday in Austin, Boston, Buffalo, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Little Rock, Pittsburgh and St. Louis.

Meanwhile, ice storms could last until Friday in Memphis, Tennessee, and Louisville, Kentucky.

More than 100 million people were under winter weather alerts, another report by CNN said.

"Heavy snow totals are expected from the eastern Great Lakes through much of interior New York state eastward into central and northern New England," the WPC said.

Snowfall rates were expected to reach 1 to 2 inches per hour Thursday night and early Friday, according to the service.

Cities such as St. Louis and Cleveland are reportedly expected to see up to 10 inches of snow, while Buffalo could experience up to 12 inches.

Aside from heavy snow, "significant" ice accumulation is "possible" from Pennsylvania eastward into southern New England, the WPC said.

"This could make for difficult travel conditions along with some power outages and tree damage," the service warned.

The WPC added that locations affected by snow or ice from this storm will experience below-freezing temperatures into the weekend.

At least three people died between Wednesday and Thursday due to weather-related incidents, The Weather Channel reported.

Meanwhile, more than 200,000 homes and businesses lost electricity, mostly in Texas, Tennessee and Arkansas, a report by The New York Times said.

More than 6,400 flights across the country were canceled, while more than 7,300 were delayed as of early Friday, according to the tracking website FlightAware.