Winter storm: 200 million in path of dangerous ice, snow, and bitter cold air

A massive winter storm of ice and snow will make its way across the country starting Friday, impacting 200 million people in 40 states from Arizona to Maine.  

What we know:

The storm is forecast to begin Friday in New Mexico and Texas and then move out of the Southwest and track east through the weekend, first slamming Texas and Oklahoma, before raking across the South and into the Mississippi and Tennessee valleys, and eventually reaching the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast coasts.

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Expected snowfall. (FOX Weather)

A trailing blast of Arctic air associated with the polar vortex is expected to bring bitterly cold air. Freezing temperatures are expected all the way to Florida and lows in the North and Midwest will get about as cold as possible, even down to minus 25 or 30 degrees Fahrenheit, forecasters said.

Ice forecast. (FOX Weather)

States of Emergency declared in several states ahead of winter storm

A state of emergency is a formal declaration by a governor that conditions are severe enough to require state-level coordination and resources to support local response efforts.

Governors in Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia have declared States of Emergency ahead of the winter storm.

This graphic displays areas that could potentially face power outages from the major winter storm. (FOX Weather)

Winter storm expected to cause widespread power outages

Over 15 states stretching across a massive corridor from New Mexico through the South to the Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic coasts are bracing for widespread power outages.  The ice and snow will weigh down tree branches and powerlines and knock out electricity, perhaps for days. 

RELATED: Your pre-snow (or ice) storm shopping list

According to the FOX Forecast Center, two inches of ice is an additional 2,248 pounds across 300 feet of power lines — roughly the equivalent of a compact sedan hanging from the wires.

Major energy utilities from Texas to the Carolinas say they are prepared for the potentially catastrophic winter storm.

Travelers move through a TSA security screening line at Orlando International Airport on the day before Thanksgiving in Orlando.(Photo by Paul Hennesy/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Sprawling winter storm expected to impact travel

Airports across the country will likely see days of significant cancellations and delays.

RELATED: What to do if your flight gets canceled due to winter storms

Major airlines have issued travel waivers for flights this weekend across most of the eastern two-thirds of the country ahead of the winter storm. American, Delta, United and Southwest, have all issued expansive travel waivers for dozens of airports across the country beginning Friday.  JetBlue and Spirit have issued similar waivers. Hundreds of flight cancellations are expected this weekend. 

The storm is expected to impact the vast majority of air travel hubs all told, including Dallas, St. Louis, Nashville, Charlotte, Atlanta, Washington, D.C. and New York.