A powerful winter storm has battered the central United States, bringing heavy snowfall and freezing rain to the Northern Plains and thunderstorms and tornadoes to the South, Reuters reported. 

The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for parts of Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas, and said witnesses saw plumes of air near Grapevine, Texas, and west of Shreveport, Louisiana.

The tornado near Grapevine damaged several buildings and caused traffic accidents, but so far there are no reports of deaths or injuries. 

More than 70 flights have been canceled and another 800 delayed, according to flight-tracking website Flightaware.com. 

Blizzard-like conditions have canceled school in North and South Dakota, Colorado and Nebraska.

Winds of up to 60 miles per hour are expected in some places across the four states over the next two days, the weather service warned. 

Two victims of snow storms in New York

Due to the accumulation of snow and ice, many highways and roads have been closed, according to the road authorities, who are urging citizens to stay at home. 

Forecasters warn that temperatures in the region could drop to minus 29 degrees Celsius.