Governors in more than a dozen states have enacted emergency measures and cold weather protocols as severe winter weather impacts much of the US.
Wind chill alerts cover more than half the country's population as the sprawling winter storm brings snow, wind, ice and frigid temperatures.
Meanwhile, thousands of US flights have been canceled so far during a busy holiday travel week.
Here are the latest developments:
- Winter storm’s impact on air travel: Flight delays and cancellations became more widespread as the day went on and the massive storm with the potential to become a “bomb cyclone” trucked east, derailing holiday travel in large Northeast cities. The Federal Aviation Administration delayed flights at Washington’s Reagan National Airport, at Philadelphia International Airport, and at both Newark and John F. Kennedy airports in the New York metro area. About 2,500 flights were canceled across the country Thursday, and at least 2,700 are already canceled for Friday.
- Blizzard conditions could last multiple days in Buffalo: A blizzard warning will take effect at 7 a.m. ET Friday for Buffalo, New York, and surrounding communities. Feet of snow and 70 mph wind gusts are likely, according to the National Weather Service. The combination of the snow associated with a potential bomb cyclone, very heavy lake-effect snow and the high winds will lead to deteriorating conditions. “Travel will be extremely difficult to impossible at times,” the weather service said.
- Extreme wind and flash freezing expected to wreak havoc in Ohio: Ohio will face a “unique and dangerous” situation throughout Christmas weekend, with flash freezing conditions lasting through this morning, Gov. Mike DeWine said. DeWine said the entire state will be hit with flash freezing by 4 a.m. ET Friday.
- Record lows in the West: Two locations in Wyoming set records early Thursday for the lowest temperatures ever recorded at a particular location, regardless of the date on the calendar. Those new records are minus 41 degrees in Casper and minus 29 in Riverton. Record daily lows for December 22 included several places in Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota and Washington state.