Severe weather brings heavy snow and ice across the U.S.

Oklahoma authorities vowed to keep their eyes peeled for price gouging by natural gas providers as the Sooner state braces for the cold weekend.

Prices can't be increased by more than 10%, under conditions set by the state's Emergency Price Stabilization Act. 

“It is critical that Oklahomans are not exploited, especially during extreme weather events,” Attorney General Gentner Drummond said in a statement. “While energy markets can experience volatility during periods of severe cold, those conditions do not excuse predatory behavior or violations of contractual obligations. Ratepayers deserve fair and transparent costs that reflect legitimate market conditions.”

Travis Houston, Dallas' deputy director of emergency management and crisis response, discusses the potential impacts of the dangerous winter storm expected in Texas and the plans for any damage to power lines and the electrical grid. 

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has prepositioned supplies, prepared incident management teams to deploy and put urban search and rescue teams on standby ahead of the winter storm. 

In a post on X, Noem said FEMA had 30 generators, 250,000 meals, 400,000 liters of water and other essential supplies ready for distribution. 

Although FEMA can provide supplies during a winter weather event, the agency rarely takes center stage during snowstorms — a difference from its usual role during other natural disasters, like hurricanes. 

“FEMA roles during winter storms can be more limited,” said Rafael Lemaitre, who served as the agency's director for public affairs during President Barack Obama's administration. “A lot of the impacts — road cleaning and those kinds of things are usually handled by state and local officials. FEMA doesn’t have its own suite of snow clearance vehicles or anything like that.”

Catholics in the nation’s capital have the blessings of the archdiocese to skip Mass because of the winter storm.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington today issued a “dispensation from obligation to attend Sunday Mass this weekend” as Washington and the rest of the East Coast and Mid-Atlantic brace for a major winter storm.

Robert Cardinal McElroy, archbishop of Washington, wrote that he made the decree “in this extraordinary circumstance” that applies to members wherever they are.

“No one is required to make use of this dispensation. It is certainly preferable to attend Mass if it is possible to do so according to one’s prudential judgment,” he wrote.

Over 144 million people in the U.S. were under Winter Storm Warnings at around 9:45 p.m. today, the National Weather Service said.

“This high-impact winter storm is forecast to bring widespread heavy snow and catastrophic ice accumulations from the southern Plains/Rockies to New England through the weekend,” the NWS Weather Prediction Center said on X.

A Winter Weather Warning is one of several alerts for winter weather or freezing temperatures.

There is also a Winter Weather Advisory and a Winter Storm Watch, as well as other alerts for extreme cold, ice storms and freeze warnings.

There were more than 10 million people under Winter Weather Advisory this evening, according to the weather service’s website. A huge section of the U.S. from the Rockies east is under weather alerts, the map shows.

Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt is encouraging residents to stay home and prepare for the dangerous winter storm expected to hit his city, which rarely sees snow and ice. 

The National Weather Service in Fort Worth says there have been reports of freezing rain and sleet in parts of Texas as the winter storm slowly approaches the metro area.

The freezing rain and sleet have been reported in parts of the Texas Big Country, which is a region in the middle of the state containing Abilene, the agency said.

“We expect sub-freezing temperatures moving into the Metroplex sometime between 10pm and 2am tonight,” the weather service’s Fort Worth office said on X shortly before 6 p.m. local time.

More companies are weighing in with customer guidance ahead of the storm.

A spokesperson for Aldi, the grocery chain with thousands of stores across dozens of states, said the company is closely monitoring the weather and will try to keep as many stores open as possible.

Wegmans, the New York-based supermarket chain, said it was stocking up on high-demand items like milk, bread and batteries while scaling back prepared foods.

An official with Amazon said a team of meteorologists is closely tracking the storm so the company can make necessary adjustments.

Generator maker Generac said it is moving inventory to areas likely to be hit hardest by the storm and increasing staffing at call centers and manufacturing and distribution facilities.

“We know winter storms can be stressful and disruptive, and our thoughts are with everyone in the path of this weather system,” the company said.

Walgreens and CVS reminded customers to refill and pick up their prescriptions.

The police department in Greensboro, North Carolina, warned about the very real traffic problems expected by the ice storm by referring to weekend plans.

“Please remember that whoever you hang out with on Saturday, you’re stuck with until at least Tuesday when the ice melts,” the department said on X Thursday night.

“You’re either going to be besties or not,” it said. “Choice is yours.”

North and South Carolina are bracing for ice with the winter storm. The governors of both states have declared states of emergency ahead of the storm, which allows greater flexibility in the use of state resources.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein urged that residents have a plan in case of power outages, and to stay off the roads to allow crews to work.

President Donald Trump said the Federal Emergency Management Agency is "fully prepared" to respond to the storm.

“I have been briefed on the Record Cold Wave and Historic Winter Storm that will be hitting much of the United States this weekend,” he said on Truth Social. “The Trump Administration is coordinating with State and Local Officials. FEMA is fully prepared to respond. Stay Safe and Stay Warm!”

San Antonio's city animal shelter has been "matchmaking" animals with foster families as it scurries to get the animals to homes before freezing weather sets in tomorrow.

Jon Gary, director of San Antonio's Animal Care Services, said that as of this afternoon his team has put 29 dogs and a cat in foster homes, to ensure there is room for new animals to be brought to the shelter. The facility is virtually always at capacity and cares for more than 400 animals a day, Gary said. The shelter posted a plea for temporary fosters early this week and was to continue "matchmaking" until this evening, he said.

Background checks are completed for those who want to foster, but the training has been abbreviated to get the animals quickly relocated, he said.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders deployed the Arkansas National Guard today, creating 28 weather response teams ahead of the advancing winter storm.

The National Guard members will assist state police with transporting stranded motorists and "provide around-the-clock support until they are no longer needed," Sanders said in a statement.

Soldiers from the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade in Lowell, Ark., prepare as inclement weather bears down on the region on Jan. 30, 2023. Arkansas National Guard

“Our National Guardsmen are always on call to assist our state when disaster strikes and, as this weekend’s winter storm approaches, we will need all the assistance we can get to keep Arkansans safe,” Sanders said. 

Sanders declared a state of emergency on Thursday and directed $250,000 to support response and recovery efforts.

A man jumps from a mound of snow using a bodyboard outside the Capitol building in Washington on January 2024. Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images

Reminder: Sledding IS allowed on Capitol Hill.

The U.S. Capitol Police and Eleanor Holmes Norton, Washington, D.C.’s Delegate to the House, made the PSA today ahead of this weekend’s expected storm.

“The West Front of the Capitol is widely known as one of the best sledding hills in D.C.’s high-density urban environment,” Norton said. “That is why I get a provision included annually in the Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill directing the Capitol Police to allow sledding on Capitol grounds.”

In a statement, the U.S. Capitol Police encouraged people to have fun but asked everyone to pick up after themselves and be careful.

Sledding was prohibited at the site last year because of the presidential inauguration setup.

Gov. Mikie Sherrill declared a state of emergency for all 21 counties in New Jersey ahead of expected "dangerous winter weather conditions," including heavy snow and freezing temperatures.

“I want to make it really clear, this is not an average winter storm,” she said. “This is a storm the likes of which we haven’t seen in probably about a decade.”

Sherrill said she is urging New Jerseyans to avoid travel Saturday evening and all day Sunday, and announced a commercial vehicle travel restriction for interstate highways "as a safety precaution to prevent incidents that could delay first responders and impede our plowing efforts."

David Sierotowicz, acting superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, said he ordered the State Emergency Operation Center to be activated Saturday evening and "remain activated throughout the storm."

Indiana State Police posted a photo to X of a semitruck crashed into the side of the road, saying it's now so cold that salt will no longer melt ice.

Gov. Kathy Hochul called the National Guard into service in anticipation of the severe winter weather that's expected to hit New York City and its suburbs this weekend.

The mercury is expected to dip below zero on Saturday with potentially heavy snow hitting the region Sunday morning.

Communications providers are preparing for the storm — and assuring customers they’ll help them stay connected through it.

Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile said they are preparing backup power, including generators.

AT&T also said it is “boosting network capacity for higher call volume.”

The providers recommend customers charge their phones ahead of the storm, save battery, limit nonemergency calls and keep devices dry.

Customers with compatible devices can text emergency services through satellite.

And for 911 calls, mobile phones can connect to any available cell signal — so if a carrier’s tower is unavailable, phones will automatically hop onto another provider’s network.

Houston Independent School District announced all schools and facilities will be closed on Monday "out of an abundance of caution" due to expected winter storm impacts on the Houston area.

"Meteorologists are forecasting a significant risk of an ice storm beginning late Saturday, possibly through Sunday and into Monday morning, creating hazardous travel conditions for our students, staff, and families, combined with dangerously low temperatures," Superintendent Mike Miles said.

Miles said that families will be informed by Sunday if schools will be in session on Tuesday.

Major retail chains are giving customers guidance ahead of the major winter storm.

A Walmart spokesperson said the company has been preparing its stores to make sure people can get essentials like blankets and batteries. The spokesperson added that the company will “operate our facilities as long as it is safe to do so.”

A Target spokesperson said over email: “Target stores are stocked and well-equipped to serve our guests in all weather conditions.” The retailer said it’s working quickly to keep high-demand products available.

Home Depot said it’s moving items to stores with the highest need and aiming to restock products as quickly as possible. The retailer recommended customers check whether the items they’re looking to buy are in stock on Home Depot’s website or app before heading to stores. It’s also offering delivery as long as conditions are OK.

Texas-based supermarket chain H-E-B said that all of its stores will be open for normal hours and still receive deliveries.

The city will decide by noon Sunday whether public school children have to show up in person to class Monday or log on for a day of remote learning, officials said.

Pigeons fly over people on a snow day in Central Park in the Manhattan borough of New York City on December 14, 2025. Charly Triballeau / AFP via Getty Images

"I have to apologize to the students that were hoping for a different answer (for a snow day off)," Mayor Zohran Mamdani said at a press briefing today.

With state law requiring at least 180 days of instruction and the growing number of holidays, snow days will be a less frequently used option, according to the mayor.

"I'm not going to contend that a snow day is not one of life's rare joys," Mamdani added. "To be very clear and direct with New Yorkers, we are also bound by a state law that requires 180 days of instruction and, as previous administrations have added additional holidays into the school calendar, it leaves our school calendar without any flexibility."

Mayor Zohran Mamdani hopes New York City residents will stay at home and indulge in guilty pleasures rather than risk going out in the storm on Sunday.

"I want to encourage New Yorkers to do something that we don’t often have the luxury of doing, which is to take a breath and stay home," he said at a press briefing today. "Watch the worst possible reality TV show you can find and take some time away from the roads."

Another TV option on Sunday could be the NFL's conference championship games, with the winners headed to the Super Bowl on Feb. 8. The New England Patriots and Denver Broncos play at 3 p.m. ET, while the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks battle at 6:30 p.m.

"And I know some of us who dread reality TV are glad there’s also football," MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber said.

Georgia is expecting the most ice the state has seen in 12 years thanks to this weekend's winter storm.

Accumulation predictions sit at around 0.25 to 1 inch of ice throughout the state, the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency said at a press conference today.

CVS and Walgreens offered guidance to customers on accessing prescription medications amid the ongoing winter storm.

Both pharmacy chains recommended that customers scoop up their prescriptions before the storm if possible.

CVS said that if a store closes for more than a day, the pharmacy’s calls will be rerouted to a nearby open store. And Walgreens said Thursday in a release that if a store is closed, customers can get a “majority of prescriptions” from their closest open store.

Both CVS and Walgreens also have store locators so customers can check whether their nearby locations are open.

In Jackson, Mississippi, officials were warning residents to prepare to hunker down ahead of expected icy conditions.

Gov. Tate Reeves has already declared a state of emergency.

"Residents should prepare now for the possibility of extended power outages," said Joey Perkins, the Hinds County emergency operations director, in a briefing today.

Officials encouraged Jacksonians to use the remainder of today and early tomorrow to gather last-minute provisions.

Michael Hill, a warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said that by tomorrow evening, as temperatures dip near freezing, icing could start in the area.

One question is how the city’s water system will fare under deteriorating conditions.

Daniel Lowry, from the city's utility service, said they have 1,000 technicians ready to go to work on restoring power. He said power outages are expected.

Restoration times will be updated on the utility website and app, but Lowry noted it might take a day for them to be accurate.

At an H-E-B grocery store in San Antonio today, a steady stream of shoppers moved in and out — and several said they were picking up a few items to prepare for the storm.

Memories of the 2021 freeze that left numerous Texans without power or enduring brownouts were fresh in the mind of many as they shopped.

Nu Riley, left, made it through the 2021 freeze in Texas, but the storm was fresh on her mind as she shopped to prepare for the coming winter weather. Suzanne Gamboa / NBC News

Nu Riley, 38, and her wife, Scarlet Riley, 37, left a northwest San Antonio H-E-B with 4 gallons of water.

"I’m concerned because I remember the snowstorm of 2021," Nu Riley said. While she didn’t lose power, her mother did, so she had to bring her home.

Riley said she was able to find the groceries she needed and explained she came to the store because several items were out of stock in her delivery order from yesterday. The water she bought was limited to two per person today, she said. 

But, she said, she’s not panicking because she has charcoal for the backyard barbecue grill and lots of blankets. 

"We’ll get through it," she added.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has put airport emergency operations centers, with additional staff and snow removal equipment, in place at John F. Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International and LaGuardia airports ahead of this weekend's winter storm.  

"Our priority during winter storms is straightforward — keeping passengers safe, informed, and moving while restoring normal operations as quickly as conditions allow," said Rick Cotton, Port Authority executive director, in a statement. 

Passengers wait for the their luggage at the arrival terminal inside Laguardia Airport in December 2022. Anthony Behar / Sipa via AP Images

Airport emergency operations centers will operate 24/7 throughout the storm and recovery efforts.

The three airports have processes in place for recommending flight cancellations at least 24 hours prior to the storm, as well as baggage service offices to assist customers with delayed or lost bags. 

The statement encouraged passengers to check their flight status regularly.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg signed a state of emergency order for Louisville and the Jefferson County area ahead of this weekend’s snowstorm. 

“There’s a 35% chance that we receive more than 15 inches of snow in Louisville over the weekend,” Greenberg said. “We have not seen that much snow in Louisville that quickly since 1994.”

The mayor said that signing a state of emergency declaration for Jefferson County allows for the procurement of resources to address community needs. The city will activate an emergency operations center, which will be in effect until the storm concludes.

Liz Pratt, Senior Director of Communications and Corporate Responsibility at LG&E, said the city has a power prioritization process in place that allows it to reroute power and limit the number of customers affected. The utility company also prioritizes restoring service to critical facilities, such as hospitals, police stations, fire departments, and airports.

Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton said she signed a state of emergency for the city that will be in effect until 8 a.m. Tuesday, in order to help residents handle the weather expected in the area.

The state of emergency order will activate the emergency operations center and place all public safety divisions on 24/7 rotations through Tuesday morning.

Parking is banned along storm emergency routes, Gorton said.

"Help us help you by preparing early, staying off the roads, helping your neighbors and ultimately staying safe," Gorton urged.

Lexington is expecting around a foot of snow and windchills below zero. Frostbite and hypothermia are risks, and power outages are possible.

Memphis officials today urged residents to stay off the roads this weekend as freezing temperatures bring dangerous, icy conditions.

"Ice accumulation is our greatest concern at this moment, and I am strongly urging residents to stay off the roads unless you absolutely have to get out," Memphis Mayor Paul Young said.

The deep freeze could also bring power outages, and anyone with a generator should know that equipment doesn't belong inside.

"If you are using a portable generator, please keep it outside in an open-air environment because using one inside your home is a recipe for disaster," Memphis Fire Chief Colin Burress said.

Local police in St. Joseph County, Indiana, posted a video on their Facebook page of a car stuck in the snow and warned of "slide-offs" on the road.

"Please use caution, slow down and ALWAYS move over for responding emergency vehicle,” police wrote. 

Supplied with new equipment for removing snow from runways, officials at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport are hopeful that this weekend's weather won’t halt operations. 

Augustus Hudson, senior deputy general manager for operations, said the new equipment should keep runways and taxiways open longer, allowing the airport to keep aircraft moving and "reduce the number of passengers stuck in the terminal."

"Things may be slower, but we think we’ll still be able to maintain our operations; they will just be at a slower pace," Hudson said.

Chris Jackman, airport assistant general manager for airport maintenance, also expressed confidence that the airport would be operational this weekend.

"I’m confident that we will keep the airfield open for arrivals and departures throughout the entire event," Jackman said.

"It’s a collaborative effort between operations, the airlines, airport maintenance, and as long as we’re working in sync, I’m confident that my team will do their part and have the airport operational," he added.

Public buses and light rail trains in Austin, Texas, will shut down a little after 4 p.m. tomorrow as the transit agency shifts its efforts to support emergency responders.

"So we are asking all of our customers to plan to take their last trips by 4 p.m.," CapMetro CEO Dottie Watkins said. "So what that means is, if you’re counting on a bus or a train or a pickup vehicle to get you home, you should be on board that vehicle on Saturday by 4 p.m. in order to allow us to get all of the vehicles off the street before dark."

Agency workers who are not sent home will be working "through the weekend to support our emergency operations partners," Watkins added.

No decisions have been made yet about service on Sunday or Monday.

Central Texas residents should be ready for a "long-duration freeze" that will bring dangerous conditions around Austin for up to 48 hours, from Saturday afternoon through Monday afternoon, officials said.

"We are expecting hard freezes Saturday night, Sunday night, and Monday night, along with the potential for a long-duration freeze," said Jason Runyon, a National Weather Service meteorologist for the Austin/San Antonio area. "Travel will become difficult, especially on bridges, overpasses, and untreated roadways."

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson urged residents to stay home this weekend.

"There's a clear recognition of the severity of what this weekend could hold," Watson said. "Understand if you can stay indoors this weekend, please stay indoors."

Gov. Josh Stein declared a state of emergency across North Carolina on Wednesday, ahead of the storm expected to hit the state over the weekend.

"Our message to North Carolina is simple: this is a serious storm. We are taking it seriously, and so should you," Stein said at a news conference this morning.

He said the state emergency response team has been activated, and it includes the Department of Transportation, the Department of Public Safety, the North Carolina National Guard, the State Highway Patrol and state utilities.

The NCDOT has already applied 2.8 million gallons of brine to pretreat roads, and utilities like Duke Energy have brought in more than 18,000 workers to help restore power outages where necessary.

Officials are urging residents to stay home and off the roads.

Stein recommended staying informed by following local media and alerts, getting disaster supplies ready now, and making a plan if power is lost.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders today activated 168 members of the National Guard as the state braces for the winter storm.

The Arkansas National Guard said in a post on X that members will support state police "around the clock" and remain activated "until weather conditions improve."

Wherever you are in the country, I can assure you there is almost nowhere as cold as Minneapolis.

Today's temperatures will remain below zero degrees Fahrenheit, with a high of minus 9, a low of minus 17 and wind chill values as low as minus 35, according to the National Weather Service.

The weather service said in a post on X that the Twin Cities region was experiencing its coldest air since 2019. It advised people in the area to cover all exposed skin and, if possible, stay indoors.

For example, I am currently wearing ski pants, two pairs of socks and several layers underneath a sweater, and can still feel a chill inside my heated hotel room.

The dangerously cold weather has forced some of today's protests against the city's ongoing immigration crackdown to go indoors.

Video from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport shows severe cold weather hitting the area yesterday, with strong winds blowing snow off the ground.

“Shoutout to the MSP airport workers outside in this cold.  11 below and windchill already approaching 30 below.  Absolutely brutal,” Brett LaBare wrote in the X post. 

A warning of extreme cold was issued for the region through this afternoon, the National Weather Service said. 

The city of Philadelphia has declared a snow emergency beginning at 9 a.m. tomorrow, Mayor Cherelle Parker announced this morning. It will remain in effect until roadway conditions improve.

The forecast shows heavy snow starting in the Northeast early Sunday, something she called a "major winter storm."

Heavy snowfall will create hazardous roadway conditions for people and for vehicles, Parker said. She asked that those in the city move their vehicles by 9 p.m. tomorrow.

She called on Philadelphians to help the city by keeping roadways free of vehicles that don’t need to be parked there, so that roads remain passable for emergency vehicles.

"We are ready," Parker said, noting all local departments and partner agencies are activated with winter operations plans. Crews have already pretreated and brined the roads, she added.

"Please take this storm seriously," Parker continued. "Now is the time to prepare."

Public schools in the area will also be closed on Monday.

An NBA game and dozens of college basketball games are being rescheduled due to an approaching major winter storm.

The Washington Wizards game against the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday has been moved from 6 p.m. ET to noon.

The ACC moved up the start times for three men’s basketball games on Saturday: Wake Forest at Duke, North Carolina at Virginia, and Virginia Tech at Louisville.

A pair of women’s basketball games featuring ranked teams has also been affected by scheduling changes. No. 1 UConn’s game at Seton Hall was moved from Sunday to Saturday, and No. 14 Baylor’s home contest against Houston went from Sunday to Tuesday. Also, Cincinnati shifted its women’s basketball game to a noon start Saturday against Arizona State.

Grocery shoppers seeking to stock up ahead of the brutal winter storm this weekend found shelves already empty from Washington to North Carolina.

In Cary, North Carolina, last night, one shopper shared these images:

Empty shelves, above and below, at Harris Teeter in Cary, N.C., today. Landon Murphy

Landon Murphy

Other stores in the state showed similar empty shelves as residents rushed to prepare for the weekend.

Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser called the incoming storm the "largest snowfall we’ve seen in the in a long time," noting that the area is expected to see at least 9 inches of snow.

Because of that, Bowser declared a snow emergency and a state of emergency in Washington, D.C. She said she has requested support from the D.C. National Guard so first responders can more easily move around the city.

Bowser addressed the public: "Get prepared and be prepared."

She said people should get indoors, and that city workers are helping people get into shelters. Bowser said the city has space for everyone and "this is seriously dangerous conditions for people to be outside."

If you see people outside in D.C., Bowser said, you can call 311 202-399-7093 for the shelter hotline.

D.C. public schools are closed Monday as a part of the regular school calendar, and that will hold, Bowser said. Further school cancellations will be announced depending on the weather.

Ahead of the storm, Bowser said, people should charge their devices and get their flashlights and batteries ready. She cautioned against waiting until tomorrow to stock up on groceries and to make sure people have plans to check in with family and neighbors throughout the storm.

Prices for natural gas continue to climb, rising about 2% today and briefly hitting their highest level since December 2022. 

Natural gas is one of the most common heating sources for residential households in the U.S. Its prices have been on the upswing this week ahead of the anticipated winter storm sweeping across huge parts of the country. 

Since Monday, natural gas prices have jumped about 67%.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency this morning, saying the weekend’s storm could bring "a very dangerous combination of heavy snow and extreme, extreme cold temperatures."

Hochul declared an emergency throughout all of New York, saying it would allow the state to work more closely with local governments and deploy state resources.

"This will ensure that all of our local partners and agencies have the resources they need to keep New Yorkers safe and to get through this weather event," she said at a news conference this morning. 

Austin residents will enjoy a day of nearly 70 degrees today before subfreezing temperatures slam the region tomorrow, threatening "people, pipes, pets and plants," according to City Hall.

"I’m preemptively declaring a local state of disaster, so that we can respond quicker and organize more efficiently behind the scenes— in case a disaster does occur," Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said in a statement.

The city is set to hold a press conference today to discuss the winter weather.

People and businesses in Texas are bracing for a brutal winter storm as the governor declares a state of emergency. NBC 5 correspondent Larry Collins reports from the ground on how Texas authorities and power companies are preparing for the winter storm and are trying to avoid a deadly disaster similar to the one in 2021.

An emergency medicine physician at UTHealth Houston is warning Texas residents about the biggest risks of the freeze set to hit the state today and how to stay safe.

"One of the biggest risks of these freezing temps is developing hypothermia, and that can truly be deadly if you’re not prepared," Dr. Salil Bhandari said. In these temperatures, hypothermia can set in in as little as 30 minutes, and if you’re wet, even sooner — 5 to 10 minutes," he told NBC News.

Hypothermia occurs when the body is losing heat faster than it can produce it, he said. The highest risk groups for hypothermia are the elderly and infants, people with chronic health conditions and people without housing.

Anyone exposed to frigid temperatures for too long without dressing warmly might start shivering, and then their body processes might slow down, Bhandari explained. Symptoms such as weakness and confusion may occur if you cannot reach a warmer environment.

Oklahoma City: A wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain begins around 3 p.m. today and continues until 11 a.m. Sunday. The heaviest period of snow and sleet is from 10 p.m. today to 5 a.m. Sunday. From 6 to 10 inches of snow is expected, with a low risk of icing.

Dallas: Rain changes to sleet and freezing rain around 8 p.m. tonight. Freezing rain and sleet fall from midnight tonight through 11 a.m. Sunday. The heaviest period of wintry precipitation lasts from 1 a.m. tomorrow to 5 a.m. Sunday. From 1 to 3 inches of snow and 0.25 inch to 0.50 inch of ice are expected.

Memphis, Tennessee: Snow begins around midnight tonight, then changes to a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain at 5 a.m. tomorrow, which will last until 5 p.m. Sunday. From 1 to 3 inches of snow and up to 0.25 inch of ice are expected.

Nashville, Tennessee: Snow begins around 7 a.m. tomorrow, then changes to a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain around noon, lasting until 11 p.m. Sunday. From 2 to 4 inches of snow and up to 0.50 inch of ice are expected.

Louisville, Kentucky: Snow begins around 8 a.m. tomorrow and lasts until 6 a.m. Monday. Precipitation type likely remains pure snow, with 8 to 14 inches expected, along with a glazing of ice.

Atlanta: Rain from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. tomorrow, then a period of freezing rain overnight into Sunday from 1 a.m. to 8 a.m., before switching back to rain around noon Sunday. No snow is expected, but up to 0.2 inch of ice is likely.

Charlotte, North Carolina: A mix of sleet and freezing rain begins around 3 p.m. tomorrow and lasts until 3 a.m. Monday. About an inch of snow and 0.75 inch of ice are expected.

Washington, D.C.: Snow begins around 6 p.m. tomorrow, then sleet and snow mix at 6 a.m. Sunday through 6 a.m. Monday. How much sleet and freezing rain mix in will determine the snow amounts — more mix will lead to lower end snow totals. From 6 to 10 inches of snow is expected, as is up to 0.1 inch of ice.

New York City: Light snow begins around 1 a.m. Sunday, then remains mostly all snow until 6 p.m. Monday. A period of sleet may mix in late Sunday to early Monday. A longer mixing period will lower snow amounts. From 8 to 14 inches of snow and a glazing of ice are expected.

Boston: Snow begins around 8 a.m. Sunday and will continue to Tuesday morning. Precipitation type likely remains pure snow. From 10 to 16 inches of snow is expected. No ice is predicted, but it will be dangerously cold.

Cold alerts are in place for 185 million people this morning for nearly every state east of the Rockies.

Arctic air dives into the Lower 48 today, dropping temperatures 30 to 40 degrees below average.

This will be a long duration, prolonged cold event with record cold temperatures forecast to last through Tuesday or Wednesday (4-5 days) in Southern cities, while below-freezing temperatures could persist for up to 10 days in cities in the Northeast.

Once some places dip below freezing tonight, they could remain there until Tuesday or Wednesday.

Temperature highs TODAY/TOMORROW/SUN/MON/TUE

Dallas: 50/27/22/30/43

Memphis: 38/21/21/18/32

Atlanta: 50/41/39/30/37

Charlotte: 48/35/32/37/37

Washington: 44/21/27/28/25

New York City: 32/18/26/27/19

At least 172 million people are now under winter alerts stretching from the Arizona/New Mexico border to southern Maine.

The storm will form today in the Plains, with heavy ice and snow breaking out across Kansas, Oklahoma and northern Texas by tonight.

A massive swath of ice and snow will stretch from the Texas Panhandle to eastern Virginia/North Carolina tomorrow.

By Sunday, ice storms continue for the Carolinas and the mid-Atlantic as heavy snow impacts the Midwest, the Northeast and New England.

Heavy snow will end for cities south of New York City on Monday, but will linger for New England into the evening hours.

More than 170 million Americans are bracing for a potentially catastrophic winter storm stretching 2,000 miles from New Mexico to New England. At least a dozen states are already declaring emergencies ahead of the menacing forecast of ice, snow and sleet.

Consumers can expect their energy bills to jump in the next billing cycle and even months down the road as a major winter storm brews across the country.

The National Weather Service said “widespread heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain” are expected in a large part of the country starting today and carrying through the weekend.

A woman clears fresh snow from her driveway in Plymouth, Mich., on Wednesday. Kimberly P. Mitchell / USA TODAY via Imagn Images

Disruptive winter weather can send bills immediately jumping because of surges in demand.

Read the full story here.

The sheer size and scope of the winter storm barreling its way across the continental United States becomes clearer by the hour, with the National Weather Service forecasting that 170 million people will be hit by winter weather warnings between today and Sunday.

A Gahanna city snow plow clears snow from Granville Street in Columbus yesterday. Fred Squillante / Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

That means roughly half the country's population will be seriously affected by the storm in some way, whether from heavy snowfall, dangerous cold, ice accumulation or a wintry mix that looks certain to disrupt transport and businesses across hundreds of communities and major cities.

People in a huge section of the country face bitterly cold conditions today, with forecasts for Chicago of a possible minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit wind chill, minus 26 in Nebraska and minus 10 in Central Ohio.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson urged residents to keep pets indoors and to check on vulnerable neighbors. Faucets should be kept dripping to prevent freezing pipes, he said yesterday. Public schools were closed today due to the weather.

“At these temperatures, frostbite can develop on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes,” Johnson said.

The National Weather Service for Columbus, Ohio, and the surrounding area said there could be temperatures that feel like minus 10 this morning.

The Nebraska State Patrol shared weather service forecasts yesterday warning of wind chills of minus 26 for Ainsworth and minus 29 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, last night into this morning.

“If you get stranded in these frigid temps, stay in your vehicle and call for help. Don’t risk exposure in the elements by trying to walk. Call *55,” the state patrol said on X.

The National Weather Service this morning warned of "catastrophic ice accumulation" and potentially long power outages for an huge swath of the country, as the significant and long-lasting winter storm makes an impact today.

"The storm will cause significant to locally catastrophic ice accumulations with the potential for long-duration power outages, extensive tree damage, and extremely dangerous or impassable travel conditions," the forecast said.

The storm will produce widespread heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain from the southern Rockies to New England, the weather service said, with "bitterly cold" temperatures and dangerous wind chill from the southern Plains to the Northeast.

Governors across the country have declared states of emergency as officials warn residents to prepare for the massive storm, stretching from the Plains to New England, before conditions worsen.

At least 12 states in the path of the storm have issued the declarations for all or parts of the states. They include Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

The Texas power grid system, which failed during a winter storm five years ago, could be put to the test this weekend as the region faces subfreezing temperatures and dangerous wind chills.

But Texas officials and power company executives are not expecting a widespread failure like the one that left millions without power and led to more than 200 deaths in 2021. They point to infrastructure improvements made since that storm that make the system less vulnerable to freezing temperatures.

An Arctic air mass is set to begin tomorrow and will affect regions spanning 2,000 miles across the country, from Texas to the East Coast. At least 132 million people are under weather-related alerts nationwide, stretching from the Arizona-New Mexico border to upstate New York.

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As a dangerously cold weather front plunges into the U.S., much of the country can expect heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain in the days ahead.

The Winter Storm Severity Index from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather Prediction Center forecasts how dangerous the conditions will become for travel and key infrastructure.

NBC News is tracking the center’s data on the interactive map below, which shows the storm forecast for the next 72 hours. It will be updated with the latest data every two hours.

Read the full story here.

A swath of the country from eastern Texas and into the southern U.S. could see what a National Weather Service forecaster called a “crippling ice storm.”

“Significant ice accumulation” was expected from Texas and into Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, Zack Taylor, forecast operations section chief for the weather service’s Weather Predication Center, said in a video shared by the agency yesterday.

“We could see a crippling ice storm with accumulations in excess of half an inch to locally one inch,” Taylor said.

The Carolinas and north Georgia were also expected to get ice, which could lead to extended power outages, he said.

The warnings come as much of the country braced for a major winter storm, with wind chills in the negatives forecast for some areas in the Midwest.

Texas electricity grid operator ERCOT said yesterday it was "not anticipating any reliability concerns" to the statewide electricity grid due to the storm.