The severe weather system that blew through North Texas early Tuesday morning left behind severe damage in numerous locations throughout the Metroplex.A tornado watch was in effect for the entire region for hours,

A Tornado Watch was issued for the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex on Tuesday morning as a line of powerful thunderstorms raced across Texas and Oklahoma, leading to widespread power outages and storm damage.

Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans could be canceled as severe storms rumble through the South, bringing strong winds and the threat of tornadoes Tuesday.

Severe weather is predicted to hit the Columbia area of South Carolina as storms are in Wednesday’s forecast, according to the National Weather Service. Effects from the storms are expected to begin Wednesday morning and could continue into the early afternoon,

What to do in a thunderstorm, safety tips . A string of thunderstorms are expected to hit Maryland for an Impact Weather Wednesday as the storms could bring damaging

Forecasts also predicted dust storms in the southwest, tornadoes in the South and blizzard conditions in the Central Plains, and were forcing forcing some changes to Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

In Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, there’s a chance of showers before 10 a.m. Wednesday. Expect showers and possibly thunderstorms between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Showers and storms are still possible after 3 p.m. but not as likely. The high temperature in the Triangle should be around 70 degrees.

We are WEATHER ALERT on this Fat Tuesday as there is a threat for strong to severe storms along a line of thunderstorms. This line will move through the area starting between 5 and 7 p.m. and exit closer to 2-3 a.