Severe weather forecast puts more than 30 million people at risk Thursday; winter weather in Rockies

 Residents in the Southeast will once again be on alert for severe weather Thursday as severe storms target the area. 

That's been the story most of the week, particularly in northern Texas and Florida.

On Thursday, more than 30 million Americans across eight states will be at risk of severe weather.

"Damaging gusts, large hail, and a few tornadoes will all be possible," the National Weather Service said.

Here's what to know about the national weather forecast for Thursday.

Severe weather risk in Gulf Coast, Southeast

The activity centers around the Gulf of Mexico where a storm system with a marginal or slight risk of severe weather is forecast to hit Texas, the greatest impact will be in the Corpus Christi area. 

The risk for severe weather stretches across the Gulf, from southern Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle, putting cities such as New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Mobile, Alabama, at heightened risk.

"The best chance of scattered severe (thunderstorms) Thursday is near the Gulf Coast from south Texas to southern Louisiana, southern Mississippi, southern Alabama, southern Georgia and the Florida Panhandle," The Weather Channel said. "At least an inch of rain could soak many areas in the South from this wet pattern through the end of the week."

The National Weather Service says "a few storms should become organized enough" to support the severe weather threat through the afternoon in the lower Mississippi Valley region.

More wet snow, winter weather advisories around the Rockies

Some heavy snow hit the Rockies earlier in the week, and while the weather service said it is tapering it off, wet snow will be in the mix Thursday. 

"Higher elevation wet snow up to around 6-8 inches in Colorado will once again be possible," the weather servicesaid

Winter weather advisories are also in effect beginning Thursday morning in mountain areas of Wyoming and Montana.

West heats up; flood risk continues

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Meanwhile, the West is heating up: Some parts of the Southwest will get close to 100 degrees.

"Above average temperatures should be most notable across the West Coast states, where a few record high maximum/minimum temperatures could be tied or set Thursday," the weather service said. 

The rising temperatures will also bring melting snow: A flood watch is in effect from Thursday afternoon Sunday around the Greater Lake Tahoe area and Yosemite National Park around the California-Nevada border.  As a result, the National Park Service will close most of Yosemite Valley beginning Friday night.