A very powerful winter storm fern is arising across the US, and that's prompting massive emergency declarations in 17 to 18 states as authorities prepare for heavy snow and dangerous ice.
This extreme cold might last throughout the weekend. As per the National Weather Service, there are widespread winter storms in place with extreme warnings and ice storm alerts extending from the Southern Plains through the Midwest and into the Northeast.
Governors and local officials have also declared states of emergency to mobilize resources, pre-treat roads, and ready emergency services in anticipation of treacherous travel and infrastructure strain.
This storm is said to impact the hundreds of millions of Americans with forecast speaking about more than a foot of snow in so many regions with widespread outrages.
Southern areas such as Texas and Georgia are also bracing for huge ice and sleet, with conditions that could be more disruptive than snow alone. Experts also shared how thousands of flights were canceled around the country, and rail services like Amtrak were similarly suspended on some routes for security purposes.