Much of the nation east of the Rocky Mountains is bracing for what could bethe worst winter storm of the season− followed by some of the coldest temperatures seen in years.
For many on Jan. 22, especially in the southern half of the country, that meant trips to the grocery store andprepping homes and businessesfor what's to come.
More than 175 million people were under some kind of severe winter weather messaging from the National Weather Service, said Brian Hurley, a meteorologist with the NWS Weather Prediction Center. The messages include warnings and watches for winter storms and extreme cold, including heavy snow, freezing rain, sleet and double-digit subzero temperatures.
These maps show the extent ofwhat meteorologists are forecastingthrough Jan. 25:
Which areas face the greatest risk of snow and ice?
The darkest red areas on this map illustrate the areas likely to receive at least moderate impacts from the snow and ice through Jan. 26.
Warnings, watches and advisories across the nation
Extreme wind chill values
Subzero temperatures are likely for much of the northern half of the nation, with the coldest temperatures in the upper Midwest and in northern New England.
Snowfall forecast
The weather service is calling for widespread snowfall of 5 to 15 inches, with isolated amounts of 18 inches or more at some of the higher elevations.
Freezing rain to accumulate through Jan. 25
More:A look at some of the biggest snowstorms as winter storm set to hit US
Dinah Voyles Pulver, a national correspondent for USA TODAY, covers climate change, weather, the environment and other news. Reach her at dpulver@usatoday.com or @dinahvp on Bluesky or X or dinahvp.77 on Signal.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Snow storm: See the latest forecast maps as nation braces
