Kentucky and Virginia declare a state of emergency

Tens of millions of Americans are bracing for a massive winter storm that could bring the heaviest snowfall and coldest temperatures in more than a decade.

The storm, which began in the central United States, will move east in the coming days, the National Weather Service (NWS) said.

A state of emergency has been declared in the states of Kentucky and Virginia, and Some parts of the United States that are not used to extreme cold, including Mississippi and Florida, have been warned to expect dangerous conditions.

Meteorologists say the extreme weather is caused by the polar vortex, an area of ​​cold air circulating around the Arctic.

“For some, this could be the heaviest snowfall in more than a decade,” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said.

AccuWeather forecaster Dan DePodwin said: “This could lead to the coldest January for the United States since 2011.”

He added that “temperatures well below the historical average” could persist for a week.

Those low temperatures will also occur on the East Coast, where the storm is expected to arrive Sunday night.

In the central United States, there will be “considerable disruption to daily life” and “dangerous or impossible driving conditions and widespread closures” through Sunday, according to the NWS.

Some areas of Kansas and Indiana could see at least 8 inches (20.3 cm) of snow.

In some parts of the Midwest, snow storms are possible.

“Snowy conditions will make travel extremely dangerous, with impassable roads and a high risk of motorists becoming stranded,” the NWS warned.

Sleet and freezing rain are forecast for Missouri, Illinois and parts of Kentucky and West Virginia.

As the storm moves east, millions more Americans will see record low temperatures, forecasters said.

Cities including Washington DC, Baltimore and Philadelphia are bracing for snowy and icy conditions Sunday through Monday. Snowfall of 5 to 12 inches could be reported in some parts of Virginia.

Also on Sunday, parts of the southern U.S., including Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, could experience severe thunderstorms.

Private meteorologist Ryan Maue said: “It’s going to be a disaster, a potential disaster. This is something we haven’t seen in a long time.”

American, Delta, Southwest and United airlines are waiving change fees for passengers due to potential flight disruptions.