A powerful winter storm is expected to affect large areas of the United States, where more than 70 million people live, BNR reported.
The storm, which has already brought snow, strong winds and ice to the central plains, will cause traffic disruptions and potential power outages in a large area of the United States, stretching from the state of Missouri to the Atlantic Ocean. For some states, this could be the heaviest snowfall in more than a decade, the National Weather Service warned.
Among the states affected by the snowstorms are Kansas, Missouri, southern Illinois, Indiana and western Kentucky.
Late Sunday, the snowstorm will move east along the Ohio River and reach the states in the mid-Atlantic coast of the country. The areas south of the heavy snowfall are at the greatest risk of icing, with meteorologists already issuing warnings to residents of the states of Kansas and Missouri.
Also at risk are residents of the central Appalachian region, as well as parts of Maryland and Delaware.
Ahead of the storm, the governors of Kentucky, Virginia, Arkansas and Missouri declared states of emergency, while the governor of Maryland declared a state of heightened alert. Some southern states such as Mississippi and Florida also warned of unusually cold weather and treacherous weather conditions.
The winter storm is caused by a large Arctic front, which is characterized by low pressure and cold air and is usually located in the region around the North Pole, but sometimes increases in size and affects the territories of the United States and Canada.