Weather offering blizzards, twisters

(CNN) - Severe weather is battering much of the central U.S. including tornadoes in parts and blizzards in others.

The extreme conditions are part of a large front that will likely mean more severe weather for the weekend. It's a story of extremes.

Tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in parts of Illinois, Tennessee and states further south.

Up north, blizzards and whiteout conditions in Iowa and Minnesota.

It's all part of a fast-developing storm front sweeping across the central U.S.

Meteorologists say the mix of warm and cold air is to blame for the most severe conditions.

"Very hot air, very muggy air in the East, very much colder air behind it," said CNN meteorologist Chad Myers. "That cold air pushes the warm air up - that's the cold front - and we get the tornado possibilities."

More than possibilities: The National Weather Service had reports of as many as eight tornadoes in central Illinois late Thursday.

Seven outbuildings were destroyed in Mechanicsburg. And more than 24,000 people lost power in the state.

Several areas also saw flooding, which emergency officials say was fueled by heavy rain and melting snow.

Meanwhile in colder temperatures up north, blizzard warnings were in effect in Minnesota as rain turned to snow.

It's got some fed up with the seemingly never-ending cold.

And there's no end in sight.

A cold front on the tail of the current system will mean the story of extremes will likely continue into the weekend with plummeting temperatures in the North, and heavy downpours possible in the lower Midwest.

http://www.wdam.com/story/24784362/weather-offering-blizzards-twisters

So far, there have been no reports of injuries or death related to this round of severe weather.