Arctic Front to Blanket Large Swaths of U.S. in Snow and Ice

A massive Arctic air blast, driven by a Polar Vortex, is forecast to bring heavy snow and freezing rain to about 30 states and around 160 million people, starting in Texas and New Mexico and sweeping east to major cities like Memphis, Nashville, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York. Some interior plains could see sub-40°F wind chills and temperatures plunge far below freezing; snowfall could exceed 12 inches in some areas. The storm threatens travel disruptions, power outages, and tree damage, and several states have declared emergencies as cold air persists into next week.