Bolts of lightning split the sky over Tyler, Texas, the night of February 5.

The storm was part of a swath of violent weather the swept through the U.S. South on Tuesday night, spawning scores of tornadoes from Texas to Indiana and causing at least 48 reported deaths.

Forecasters say the powerful storm front is trailing a "cold side" behind it, packing high winds and heavy snowstorms, which threaten regions from New Mexico to Wisconsin.

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