A Chilly Weekend Ahead: What You Need to Know

A massive storm is set to bring heavy snow and freezing temperatures to a huge part of the U. S. this weekend. This storm is expected to affect about 150 million people, which is almost half the country's population. The storm will bring a lot of snow, up to 20 inches in some areas like the Appalachians and West Virginia. In the eastern U. S. , people might face icy roads and possible power outages. This is because ice-laden trees and branches could fall and snap power lines. Brian Hurley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said that half of all Americans are under some form of weather advisory. This is due to the extreme cold in the North and the storm. Cities like New York City, Boston, Baltimore, and Washington, D. C. could see 4 to 10 inches of heavy, wet snow starting on Saturday. Temperatures in these cities will be very low, with Boston seeing a low of 7 degrees Fahrenheit.New York state is expected to be under a "Code Blue". This means social service providers will extend shelter hours and ensure the homeless have access to them. Chicago is bracing for a "deep freeze" with a low of 2 degrees below zero on Friday and Saturday. Dangerous wind chills of 30 below zero are also expected. Space heaters have been selling out all week at a local hardware store. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott declared a state of emergency. This means extra personnel and equipment will be activated to help control traffic, monitor power outages, and rescue people trapped by the storm. The storm is expected to clear out of most areas by late Sunday or early on Monday. The extreme cold from an Arctic blast of air from Canada will bring a high temperature of only 5 degrees below zero on Saturday in Fargo, North Dakota. Farther south, the main storm hazard will be ice. From Central Virginia to northern Texas, the southeastern states could see accumulations of up to a half inch of ice.