Storm could dump up to 8 inches of snow in Midwest

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A weekend storm could give new meaning to March Madness for the thousands of fans in Kansas City for the men's college basketball tournament.

Forecasters say the third major snowstorm to hit the Midwest in about a month could blanket northern areas of the nation's heartland in up to a foot of snow.

The storm expected to come down from the Rocky Mountains could dump 8 or more inches of snow on Kansas City and could also blanket Indianapolis, Omaha, Neb., and Springfield, Ill. More snow is expected to hit parts of the Northeast early next week, and the cold air may stick around for even longer.

Farther south, tornadoes are possible in Louisiana and Mississippi as the storm system moves east, while strong winds and low humidity levels could lead to forest fires and wildfires in parts of New Mexico and west Texas.