A major winter storm is set to spread heavy snow and damaging ice across a large portion of the United States over the coming days. Dangerously cold temperatures will only worsen the storm and increase its danger.

A fierce winter storm swept into the West on Friday with freezing rain and snow, while a blast of polar air helped send temperatures plunging as low as minus 58 degrees in the Northern Plains.

A powerful winter storm is peaking as it moves east, battering the Midwest, Great Lakes and Northeast with blizzard conditions, damaging ice, widespread power outages and major travel disruptions.