Dayton, Ohio, Breaks 108-Year-Old Record For Snowfall

Millions of Americans remain under a winter storm watch as a powerful winter storm pushes north east, leaving heavy snow, flash floods and severe thunderstorms in its wake.

The National Weather Service issued multiple tornado warnings on Wednesday, as the storm moved across north-west Florida and southern Georgia.

It comes a day after a tornado ripped through Texas, causing severe destruction along its route.

There have been no reported deaths.

Dayton, Ohio, broke a 108-year-old record for snowfall after recording 5in (12cm) of snow Wednesday, according to the NWS. The previous record of 4.9in was set in 1915.

Snowfall from Texas to Maine is expected to reach between 4 and 8in, according to NWS, while northern New England and surrounding areas may see eight to 12in, possibly resulting in dangerous travelling conditions in the area.

More than 120,000 homes and businesses in Arkansas, Missouri and Texas were without power as of Wednesday evening, according to PowerOutage.us. Chicago’s Midway International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport accounted for most of the nation’s flight cancellations.

Wednesday’s storms are a continuation of low-pressure systems that developed off the coasts of Texas and Florida that have started to move north, said Rachel Cobb, a meteorologist with the NWS.

“It’s pulling a lot of energy and moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and that’s what started the storms yesterday,” Ms Cobb told the BBC.

“And now as it tracks north and north east, it’s meeting the cold air and we’re seeing the heavy snow, one to two inches an hour.”