Follow live winter storm updates and breaking weather news as snowstorms are predicted to fall across the U.S. this weekend, affecting states as far south as Texas.

Heavy snow, ice and brutal cold are expected to make this winter storm a potentially life-threatening weather event for 35 states.

Half the U.S. population will likely see some effect from the sprawling storm that will move across the country this weekend, meteorologists said.

A major storm system is expected to deliver significant snowfall and freezing rain across more than half of the United States this weekend, with winter weather alerts in effect in cities like Atlanta,

The snow could mix with sleet at the height of the storm even in the Philly region, the weather service said. That would hold down accumulations: Sleet is slow to accumulate. Conversely, since it is pure ice, it is slower to melt.

Arctic air is expected to arrive Thursday night across Colorado and persist through the weekend, bringing freezing temperatures and snow, according to the National Weather Service.

Travel disruptions, power ‌outages, ​and frigid temperatures are expected to ‌affect 150 million Americans on Friday and through the weekend as a massive storm ​clobbers the U.S. with heavy snow and freezing rain from the Central Plains to the East Coast,