Storm Originates in Texas, Spreads Eastward The massive winter storm erupted in Texas on Friday and has tracked eastward across the central United States [1][2]. It places roughly 50 % of the nation’s residents under ice‑and‑snow watches, affecting about 182 million people, while more than 210 million are under cold‑weather advisories [1][2]. Wind chills are expected to plunge to ‑40 °F in parts of the Midwest as the system moves toward the Northeast [2].

Widespread School, Event, and Flight Cancellations Midwestern school districts, including Chicago, have suspended classes for the weekend [1][2]. Airlines have canceled thousands of flights, with FlightAware reporting over 3,400 delays on Saturday and more than 5,000 on Sunday [1][2]. The Grand Ole Opry held a fan‑less radio broadcast, Louisiana’s Carnival parades were canceled or rescheduled, and many churches shifted services online [1][2].

Utility Strain and FEMA Prepositioning Resources Utilities warn that ice‑laden trees and lines could cause extensive outages, prompting crews to stand by for rapid response [1][2]. FEMA has positioned nearly 30 search‑and‑rescue teams, 7 million meals, 600 000 blankets, and 300 generators along the storm’s projected path [1][2]. The nation’s largest energy supplier flagged historic grid stress as temperatures drop further [2].

Federal Alerts and Presidential Statement President Donald Trump posted that FEMA is fully prepared and coordinating with state and local officials [1][2]. The U.S. Postal Service issued a service alert directing customers to a tracking website for mail‑processing and delivery disruptions [1][2]. Both agencies emphasize readiness to mitigate the storm’s impact on essential services [1][2].

Transportation Disruptions and Emergency Road Measures Oklahoma Department of Transportation crews are treating highways with salt‑brine to prevent ice accumulation [1][2]. The National Guard has been activated to assist stranded drivers, and the Highway Patrol canceled trooper days off to maintain staffing levels [1][2]. These actions aim to keep major roadways passable despite hazardous conditions [1][2].

Northeast Snow Forecast and Extreme Cold Meteorologists predict up to a foot of snow from Washington through New York to Boston as the system reaches the Northeast [2]. Midwest wind chills could reach ‑40 °F, intensifying the risk of frostbite and hypothermia [2]. The forecast underscores the storm’s broad geographic reach and severity [2].