As the United States braces for a powerful winter storm this weekend, millions of people across the country are preparing for heavy snowfall, treacherous ice, and plummeting temperatures. The vast system, stretching nearly 2,000 miles from the Southwest to the East Coast, is expected to affect more than 200 million people, causing significant disruptions to travel and the risk of prolonged power outages.
The storm is predicted to hit a long list of major cities, from Dallas and Oklahoma City in the South to Louisville, Charlotte, and New York on the East Coast. Some areas along this path could see more than a foot of snow, while others may contend with severe ice buildup. Forecasters expect the storm to peak on Sunday, with roughly 55% of the contiguous US population experiencing snow, sleet, or freezing rain simultaneously.
What makes this system particularly dangerous is not just the precipitation, but the extreme cold that comes with it. As the polar vortex plunges southward, temperatures in parts of the Midwest, Great Lakes, and New England are forecast to
