An intense winter storm is forecasted to affect a vast portion of the United States during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year, threatening to disrupt plans for tens of millions. A harsh Arctic blast will push through two-thirds of the country, bringing a severe cold snap, with Texas and north Florida among the affected areas. Starting late Wednesday, regions in the Midwest and Great Lakes will experience heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions through Christmas Eve, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Alongside snow accumulation, extremely strong winds are anticipated to impact nearly the entire eastern half of the U.S. These conditions will lead to “extremely dangerous travel” through Christmas Eve, affecting both roadways and air travel. Drivers should prepare for treacherous conditions, with snow falling at rates of up to 1-2 inches per hour and gusts over 50 mph causing near-zero visibility.

The storm system is expected to bring life-threatening cold across the central and north-central U.S., with wind chills plummeting to around -40°F, creating conditions for frostbite in just minutes. Heavy snowfall, particularly in the Cascades, northern Idaho, northwest Montana, and western Wyoming, is likely to exceed one foot in high elevations, with significant snow expected around Lake Michigan.

The high winds could lead to widespread power outages and tree damage from the Midwest to the Northeast. Forecasters have also highlighted potential risks for the Texas power grid due to expected temperature drops, recalling the catastrophic power failures during Winter Storm Uri in February 2021.