U.S. weather forecasters are warning residents in parts of two states not to travel, as a severe winter storm moves in and creates dangerous, near-zero visibility conditions.

The National Weather Service has issued blizzard warnings for parts of Indiana and Ohio, as a powerful storm moves east after bringing snow and tornadoes to the southern U.S.

The weather service says Indiana and Ohio could see between 15 and 25 centimeters of snow, and extremely dangerous driving conditions are expected with heavy snow and high winds.

Winter storm warnings are in effect from Indiana to the northeastern state of Maine, while parts of North Carolina and South Carolina are under tornado watches.

Hundreds of flights have been delayed or canceled, snarling travel plans for people traveling over the Christmas holiday.

Several deaths were reported after the storm swept through the southern U.S. on Christmas Day, Tuesday.

Tornadoes touched down in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, damaging homes and leaving tens of thousands of residents without power. The system also caused winter storms in Oklahoma, leading to a 21-car accident on a major interstate.

The fatalities include a 25-year-old man in Texas who was killed when a tree toppled onto his pickup truck, and a person in Oklahoma killed in a car crash on a snow-covered highway.