Winter storm: More than 240 million in path of dangerous ice, snow, and bitter cold air
More than 240 million people across more than 40 states, from Arizona to Maine, are in the path of a potentially historic winter storm that's expected to extend over 2,300 miles and deliver crippling snow and ice, beginning Friday night.
What we know:
The huge winter weather system will move out of the Southwest beginning Friday morning and track east through the weekend — first slamming Texas and Oklahoma, before raking across the South and into the Mississippi and Tennessee valleys, and eventually reaching the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast coasts.
Winter Storm Timeline
Friday Winter Storm Impacts
Cities impacted: Midland, Oklahoma City, Dallas, Wichita, Little Rock, Shreveport
Interstate Highways impacted: I-40, I-20, I-10, I-35
Airports impacted:
- Will Rogers International Airport, Oklahoma City (OKC)
- Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston (IAH)
- Shreveport Regional Airport (SHV)
- Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, Little Rock (LIT)
- Houston Hobby (HOU)
Saturday Winter Storm Impacts
Cities impacted: Dallas, Little Rock, Shreveport, Nashville, Memphis, Atlanta, Charlotte
Interstate Highways impacted: I-40, I-20, I-65
Airports impacted:
- Nashville International Airport (BNA)
- Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, Little Rock (LIT)
- Shreveport Regional Airport (SHV)
- Memphis International Airport (MEM)
- Huntsville International Airport (HSV)
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
- Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)
- Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)
Sunday Winter Storm Impacts
Cities impacted: Nashville, Atlanta, Columbia, Raleigh, Wilmington, Richmond, Washington, Philadelphia, New York City
Interstate Highways impacted: I-81, I-95, I-20, I-40, I-75
Airports impacted:
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
- Nashville International Airport (BNA)
- Raleigh–Durham International Airport (RDU)
- Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)
- LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
- Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA)
- John F. Kennedy International (JFK)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Stay informed and ahead of the storm with FOX Local Winter Storm local coverage
FOX 4 Dallas Winter Storm Live Coverage
FOX 26 Houston Winter Storm Live Coverage
FOX 7 Austin Winter Storm Live Coverage
FOX 5 Atlanta Winter Storm Live Coverage
FOX 5 DC Winter Storm Live Coverage
FOX 29 Philadelphia Winter Storm Live Coverage
FOX 5 New York Winter Storm Live Coverage
Expected snowfall. (FOX Weather)
A trailing blast of Arctic air associated with the polar vortex is expected to bring bitterly cold air. Freezing temperatures are expected all the way to Florida and lows in the North and Midwest will get about as cold as possible, even down to minus 25 or 30 degrees Fahrenheit, forecasters said.
The storm will reach the region by Saturday night and peak through the day Sunday before finally relenting Monday.
Currently, the highest snow accumulations are forecast to fall across parts of central Virginia through Washington, D.C.
The farther north the storm is able to track, the greater the likelihood of significant snow further north along the I-95 corridor in New England.
Ice forecast. (FOX Weather)
States of Emergency declared in several states ahead of winter storm
A state of emergency is a formal declaration by a governor that conditions are severe enough to require state-level coordination and resources to support local response efforts.
Governors in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia have declared States of Emergency ahead of the winter storm.
This graphic displays areas that could potentially face power outages from the major winter storm. (FOX Weather)
Winter storm expected to cause widespread power outages
Over 15 states stretching across a massive corridor from New Mexico through the South to the Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic coasts are bracing for widespread power outages. The ice and snow will weigh down tree branches and powerlines and knock out electricity, perhaps for days.
RELATED: Your pre-snow (or ice) storm shopping list
According to the FOX Forecast Center, two inches of ice is an additional 2,248 pounds across 300 feet of power lines — roughly the equivalent of a compact sedan hanging from the wires.
Major energy utilities from Texas to the Carolinas say they are prepared for the potentially catastrophic winter storm.
Travelers move through a TSA security screening line at Orlando International Airport on the day before Thanksgiving in Orlando.(Photo by Paul Hennesy/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Sprawling winter storm expected to impact travel
Airports across the country are seeing significant cancellations and delays.
RELATED: What to do if your flight gets canceled due to winter storms
As of Friday morning, FlightAware reports there are 11,351 flight delays and nearly 1,200 flights canceled.
The storm is impacting air travel hubs in Dallas, St. Louis, Nashville, Charlotte, Atlanta, Washington, D.C. and New York. Travel experts are advising people who have flights this weekend to look into changing flights to stay ahead of the storm and flight cancellations.
Major airlines have issued travel waivers for flights this weekend across most of the eastern two-thirds of the country ahead of the winter storm. American, Delta, United and Southwest, have all issued expansive travel waivers for dozens of airports across the country beginning Friday. JetBlue and Spirit have issued similar waivers. Hundreds of flight cancellations are expected this weekend.
The storm is expected to impact the vast majority of air travel hubs all told, including Dallas, St. Louis, Nashville, Charlotte, Atlanta, Washington, D.C. and New York.
The Source: Information in this article was sourced from FOX Weather, FOX Local Stations, and The Associated Press. This story was reported from Orlando.