Winter storm latest: Dangerous snow, ice move across US

A massive, 2,300-mile-long winter storm is under way, bringing sleet, snow, ice and bitter cold to some 190 million Americans in dozens of states. 

After sweeping through the South, the storm is expected to move into the Northeast, dumping about a foot of snow from Washington through New York and Boston, the National Weather Service predicted. 

After the storm passes, it will take a while to thaw out. Ice can add hundreds of pounds to power lines and branches and make them more susceptible to snapping, especially if it's windy.

Here’s the latest: 

Freezing rain hits Deep South

2:40 p.m. ET:  Freezing rain stretched from northern Mississippi to the southern Appalachians Saturday afternoon. An Ice Storm Warning is in effect from 1 p.m. Saturday until 10 a.m. Monday in North Georgia. Forecasters expect total ice accumulations between a quarter of an inch and one inch, with wind gusts up to 30 mph.

The National Weather Service also issued a Cold Weather Advisory for all of North Georgia, which will begin Monday after the ice storm moves out. Wind chills will be falling between 5º and 15º as the precipitation moves away, FOX 5 Atlanta reports. 

Whiteout conditions possible in NY, Philadelphia

2:40 p.m. ET: New York and Philadelphia are bracing for an extreme "frontogenesis" that could create whiteout conditions along Interstate 95 on Sunday, FOX Weather reports.

Frontogenesis happens when warm, moist air slams into cold air arctic, resulting in rising air, fueling intense snow rates. This area of frontogensis is expected to slide north along I-95 on Sunday, triggering extreme snow rates of 2-3 inches per hour along the I-95 corridor. Winter weather experts call it a "snow thump" because it hits quick and lays down significant snow in just an hour or two.

Texas weather

10 a.m. ET: The FOX Forecast Center is monitoring North Texas, where an increase in a wintry mix is expected Saturday morning. Sleet is expected to fall with some freezing rain at times, creating dangerous travel conditions throughout the area.

As of Saturday morning, more than 29,000 customers were without electricity in the Lone Star State. Nationwide, nearly 70,000 people were without power. 

RELATED: The lowest wind chill ever recorded

A severe cold snap five years ago took down much of the power grid in Texas, leaving millions without power for days and resulting in hundreds of deaths. Gov. Greg Abbott vowed that will not happen again, and utility companies were bringing in thousands of employees to help keep the lights on.

Click here, here and here for the latest in Texas. 

Snowfall, bitter temperatures

9 a.m. ET: More than 6 inches of snow has already fallen in parts of Arkansas and Kansas, while I-40 toward Memphis is also blanketed with fresh snow. 

Wind chills are currently near 0°F in New York and approaching -30°F in Chicago. With wind chills this low, frostbite can occur within just 30 minutes to any exposed skin. Extreme Cold Warnings were in effect for 43 million Americans Saturday morning. 

Get the latest updates from our FOX Local stations in Chicago, Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, DC. 

Flights canceled 

More than 9,000 flights across the U.S. have been canceled this weekend, while the U.S. Postal Service warned mail delivery could be interrupted in more than 30 states. 

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

Governors in more than a dozen states have declared emergencies or urged people to stay home.

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

FEMA on standby

The federal government put nearly 30 search and rescue teams on standby. Officials had more than 7 million meals, 600,000 blankets and 300 generators placed throughout the area the storm was expected to cross, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Winter Weather