A massive winter storm is forecast to bring subzero temperatures and heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain to a large swath of the United States beginning today. At least a dozen states have declared states of emergency, with the National Weather Service forecasting that 170 million people will be hit by winter weather warnings between today and Sunday.
The storm will stretch 2,000 miles across the country, from the Arizona-New Mexico border to upstate New York. Some major metros could see nearly a foot of snow, including Boston and Philadelphia.
Wind chills of as low as minus 50 degrees could cause potentially fatal hypothermia and frostbite, forecasters warn. “At these temperatures, frostbite can develop on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes,” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said. Here’s how to protect yourself from the freeze.
The dangerous conditions are expected to make travel hazardous and impact utilities. FEMA has prepositioned supplies and is deploying more than 200 call center specialists across the country, according to an agency document obtained by NBC News. It’s also coordinating with the Department of Energy as prolonged power outages are a possibility.
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