A massive winter storm will begin moving east across much of the country today, bringing with it dangerous cold that is expected to last through the weekend.
Heavy snowfall, with nearly a foot in some areas, is likely on the northern side of the system from Oklahoma to Massachusetts, according to the National Weather Service. On the southern side — including in Texas, parts of the southern U.S. and the Carolinas and Virginia — mixed precipitation is more likely.
Gusty winds are expected to drop wind chills below zero, with minus 50 possible in the Northern and Central Plains. Severe to catastrophic ice accumulation is possible and could bring the potential for prolonged power outages, worsening the impacts of the cold weather, and hazardous travel conditions.
At least a dozen states have declared states of emergency.
