Brewing storm to unleash snow, ice, bitter cold across US

WASHINGTON: A colossal US winter storm is brewing, with meteorologists on Saturday warning of deep snowfalls, frigid temperatures and ice-covered roads as millions of Americans brace for treacherous conditions.

More than 55 million people are in the path of the dangerous storm set to plunge the eastern half of the United States into a deep freeze through Monday, with the National Weather Service (NWS) warning of blizzard conditions in states from the central plains to the Mid-Atlantic.

Winter storm warnings or advisories have been issued from Montana, in the country´s Rocky Mountain northwest, clear across to the coastal states of Maryland, Delaware and Virginia.

Parts of the eastern states of New York and Pennsylvania are facing “heavy lake-effect snow” coming off the Great Lakes which could dump as much as two feet (61 centimeters) of snow on the region, according to the NWS.

Temperatures could sink to below zero Fahrenheit (-18 Celsius) in some states, while strong wind gusts will compound the dangers, it added.

From Kansas to Missouri and Ohio, up to 12 inches (33 centimeters) of snowfall is expected by Sunday.

The US capital Washington could be blanketed in five inches or more of snow, with up to 10 inches possible in nearby areas.