Millions brace severe storms as Midwest and South are battered and 200,000 people are left without power

A major storm system has begun sweeping across central United States unleashing a dangerous mix of severe thunderstorms, tornados, and ice storms - leaving hundreds of thousands without power and millions more in the path of destruction.

More than 75 million Americans are currently in the threat zone as the massive weather system barrels eastward, which could trigger tornado watches, flash flood warnings, and ice storm alerts across multiple states.

'Numerous severe thunderstorms are expected today and tonight across a broad portion of the Southeast and lower/mid Mississippi Valley into the Ohio Valley and southern Great Lakes,' NOAA's Storm Prediction Center announced Sunday.

'Multiple swaths of widespread damaging winds appear likely. Large to very large hail and several tornadoes will also occur with supercells. A few of these tornadoes could be strong,' the statement continued. 

A dozen tornadoes could hit cities like Little Rock, Arkansas; Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee; Paducah, Kentucky; Evansville and Bloomington, Indiana, as early as Sunday afternoon and Sunday night. 

Monday's severe weather is expected to affect the bustling Interstate 81, 85 and 95 corridors from New Orleans to Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington, DC, Philadelphia and New York City, as reported Accuweather. 

By Saturday evening, a tornado watch was already in effect for much of Oklahoma until 1 am Sunday, ABC News reported, as forecasters warned of 'very large hail and damaging wind gusts' across the southern Plains.

This could potentially impact major neighborhoods including Oklahoma City and Dallas through the night.

Southern Louisiana near Baton Rouge was also under a flash flood warning, with some areas already drenched by up to 4.5 inches of rain.

Forecasters are predicting another 1 to 2 inches possible by Sunday morning.

The destruction has already begun in parts of the Midwest, where more than 200,000 customers are without power - 67,631 in northern Wisconsin and a staggering 148,141 in northern Michigan - after a significant ice storm caused widespread tree damage and made travel difficult, as reported by TMJ4.

Local officials report some counties in northern Michigan are experiencing power outages affecting over 90 percent of residents as trees crashed onto power lines.

Sunday could bring even more dangerous conditions as the storm shifts eastward, with multiple rounds of severe storms expected to sweep from east Texas to the southern Great Lakes throughout the day and into the night.

That is where the greatest risk for dangerous severe thunderstorms is expected.

Meteorologists have also warned of an especially high-risk zone for strong tornadoes stretching from eastern Arkansas through western Tennessee and Kentucky into southern Indiana.

This could impact communities in Memphis, Nashville, Louisville, and Evansville.

On top of that, thunderstorms with heavy rain are moving into the Carolinas and Asheville - places that have been impacted by wildfires over the last week due to dry conditions.

Seven states from New York to North Carolina remained under Elevated Fire Danger on Saturday.

The severe weather threat will persist through the night in many areas.

Meanwhile, the northern edge of the storm is bringing a chill blast, with snow and ice forecast from the Dakotas to New England.

Ice storm warnings have been issued for Wisconsin and Michigan, where up to a half inch of ice is expected to cover streets, trees, and power infrastructure.

And by Monday, the destructive system will reach the East Coast and I-95 corridor and potentially threaten areas from Upstate New York to Tallahassee and New Orleans with damaging winds and possible tornadoes in southern regions.