Massive winter storm expected to bury much of US in snow and ice
Max Matzaand
James FitzGeral
BBC
Parts of Washington DC and New York state could see up to 10 inches of snow this weekend
A powerful blast of cold air from the Arctic is expected to sweep through much of the United States over the coming days, bringing snow and ice to nearly 30 states and affecting nearly 160 million people, forecasters warn.
The National Weather Service (NWS) expects "life-threatening cold air" to slowly track from the High Plains and Rockies in an eastward direction from Friday.
Meteorologists say temperatures could plunge well below freezing in some areas.
Separately, snow showers are already affecting an area of the US downwind of the Great Lakes, which span the US-Canada border, according to the NWS.
US transportation officials, including airport authorities in several major cities, are warning travellers to brace for significant as the severe weather system moves across the US over the weekend.
That weather system is expected to take shape in Texas and New Mexico before moving eastward, blanketing cities including Memphis, Nashville, Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York with snow.