An “unusually large and severe” winter storm is forecast to impact the East Coast this weekend, with major cities like Boston and New York City potentially receiving a foot or more of snow.
Over 30 US states, from the Southern Rockies to New England, are under weather advisories or warnings for heavy snowfall, ice, and freezing temperatures.
The storm is expected to cause widespread travel disruptions, power outages due to ice accumulation, and extremely dangerous or impassable travel conditions.
Wind chills could drop temperatures to as low as minus 45 degrees Celsius in some areas, affecting more than 170 million Americans.
Emergency declarations are already in effect in some communities, with school closures and residents stocking up on supplies reported ahead of the storm.