Winter storm grows stronger in central U.S.December 24, 2009 4:22 p.m. EST
NEW: State of emergency declared for all of Oklahoma
NEW: Snow falling at 2 inches per hour at Oklahoma City airport
Louisiana man killed when tree falls on house during strong winds
Storm likely will affect travel plans, weather service warns
(CNN) -- Oklahoma's governor declared a statewide emergency Thursday as a major winter storm sweeping across the central United States rapidly intensified Thursday.
"I am urging all Oklahomans to take winter storm precautions and stay off the roads unless travel is absolutely necessary," Gov. Brad Henry said. "This is a very serious winter storm and we want Oklahomans to stay safe."
Blizzard warnings have been issued for central and southwestern Oklahoma, including Oklahoma City, and parts of northwestern Texas. Blizzard warnings also were issued for North Dakota, much of north-central and northeastern South Dakota, and the Duluth area in Minnesota
Oklahoma City's Will Rogers World Airport was reporting heavy snow and visibilities down to 1/16th of a mile with wind gusts to 60 mph at around 2 p.m. ET. By 4 p.m. ET, snow was falling at a rate of 2 inches per hour, with 8 inches already on the ground. Thundersnow was being reported in Duncan, Oklahoma, according to CNN's Sean Morris.
Northwest Texas has already seen between 3 and 7 inches of snow with 4-foot drifts, Morris said, and snow is beginning to fall across the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area.
"Anyone with travel plans over the Christmas holiday period should keep up to date with the latest weather information," said the National Weather Service office in Duluth, Minnesota. "It should be emphasized that dangerous travel conditions will exist across most of the region from late tonight through Christmas."
In addition, there is a moderate risk for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes over the central Gulf Coast, including New Orleans, Louisiana.
The National Weather Service has issued tornado watches for southern Louisiana, Mississippi and southwestern Alabama.
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A Louisiana man was killed Thursday when strong wind caused a tree to fall on his house, police told CNN affiliate KATC in Lafayette.
Police in Scott, just outside Lafayette, identified the victim as Ryan Hebert, 44.
Localized flooding was reported in and around Little Rock, Arkansas, after heavy rain fell throughout Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
An ice storm warning has been lifted for most of the Chicago metro area, but continues in the far southeastern suburbs.
An ice storm warning is also in effect for the mountains of North Carolina and southwestern Virginia. A winter storm watch is in effect for the mountains of western Virginia and northeastern West Virginia.
Over a quarter-inch of ice is expected on trees, power lines, overpasses, bridges and highways. But the freezing rain is expected to change over to rain later Thursday, and road conditions in the area are expected to improve across the region by midafternoon Thursday.
Flood watches, warnings and advisories have been issued for much of Missouri and Illinois, where several inches of rain is causing flooding in streams and rivers.
The inclement weather is the second major storm system to hit the United States in a week. Last weekend, a nor'easter blanketed a swath of the East Coast in snow, forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights.
