Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings.

A winter storm was expected to head east from the Rocky Mountains on Tuesday, bringing rain and possible flooding to the southeastern U.S.

#Tennessee River forecast to reach top 10 all-time crest by the weekend. Soggy soil and 6-8" of rain = a lot of flood trouble in the region. pic.twitter.com/zgTeSNFfkr — Bill Karins (@BillKarins) February 18, 2019

The storm system is forecast to begin in the southern and central Rockies, with rain over lower elevations of the Southwest that will change to snow by Tuesday morning. Temperatures in the Central Plains and Rockies will likely dip 15 to 26 degrees below average, the National Weather Service said.

Snowfall from two to six inches is expected from the Central Plains to the Midwest on Tuesday, and is forecast for the Great Lakes and Northeast on Wednesday.

A winter storm will bring a threat for heavy snow and ice from Oklahoma across the Midwest, Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic, and the Northeast U.S. Tuesday through Wednesday. Dangerous travel likely. Several inches of heavy rain will threaten flooding over the southern states. pic.twitter.com/wbtdfmE75o — NWS (@NWS) February 18, 2019

Forecasters say there could be potential for more than four inches of heavy snow in the Mid-Atlantic region as well on Wednesday. The snow may turn in to a mix of slush and rain.

Winter weather alerts were issued for Oklahoma City, St. Louis, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia.

The new storm comes just two weeks after the U.S. was hit by a deadly polar vortex. Harsh, frigid weather during the vortex was connected to multiple deaths.