Major storm headed to central US, icy roads shut down interstate

Light rain is falling on frozen roads in Wisconsin Thursday morning, creating extremely dangerous driving conditions and closing an interstate.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is urging people to stay off the roads from Tomah to La Crosse.

The La Crosse police said there are "reports of multiple traffic lights struck and knocked down in the city."

"If you do not have to drive please stay off the roads," the police tweeted.

Meanwhile, 11 states from Texas to Michigan are on alert for flash flooding and winter weather before a major storm heads to the Plains and Midwest on Friday.

Dallas, Houston, Little Rock and Shreveport could all be hit by tornadoes, damaging winds and large hail Friday night into early Saturday.

Very heavy rain could produce flash flooding from Texas to Missouri to Michigan, including Dallas, St. Louis, Indianapolis and Detroit.

On the backside of the storm, icy conditions will begin to develop Friday night from Wichita to Kansas City to Chicago.

Through Saturday, the threat persists for tornadoes, damaging winds and hail in Mississippi, Alabama, western Georgia and Tennessee.

New Orleans, Birmingham and Jackson, Mississippi, are also at-risk for severe weather Saturday.

Three to five inches of rain are expected for the Mississippi, Tennessee and Ohio Valleys through Saturday night.

Up to 1 foot of snow could hit the Great Lakes and parts of Wisconsin and Michigan through Saturday night.

By Sunday, the severe weather and most of the snow will have ended.

Icy conditions will persist across parts of northern New England and areas of heavy rain are possible for the Northeast.