Winter chill grips most of the US, with a storm threatening the east and south.

A large portion of the country is preparing for another round of extremely cold winter weather as storms move into the South and East this weekend, bringing with them extremely low temperatures and difficult conditions.

A blast of arctic air is expected to dominate the eastern two-thirds of the country, according to the Weather Prediction Centre of the National Weather Service (NWS). Temperatures are predicted to drop sharply, with some parts of Missouri and Kansas possibly seeing below-freezing temperatures, even if the storm will not be as severe as the last one. There will be temperatures below freezing in the Gulf Coast region as well.

A Hard Freeze Warning has been issued for parts of eastern Texas, southern Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and certain counties in Georgia, as well as substantial swaths of southern Louisiana. According to NWS advisories, wind chill values downwind of the Great Lakes could drop as low as minus 20 to 30 degrees, resulting in lake-effect snow.

A wide range of the nation, from areas of central Florida to Montana in the north, has been placed under wind chill advisories. As of Saturday morning, there is a wind chill advisory in effect for the whole state of Tennessee.

Upslope snow is predicted in West Virginia and southwest Pennsylvania in the East. Local weather agencies are advising people to drive carefully if they must go through heavy snow showers.

“Rapid changes in visibility and potentially slick roads are likely to lead to accidents,” reads the caution. Think about holding off on moving till the squall passes over your area.”

For the next few months, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued an outlook. Even though January is already experiencing a lot of storms, ice, and extremely low temperatures, the forecast indicates that many states that are experiencing winter weather may experience a change to milder temperatures. From February to April, above-average temperatures are predicted, especially in the country’s north.

Residents are advised to keep aware of local weather conditions, adhere to safety precautions, and use caution when travelling in inclement weather as the country battles this winter’s onslaught.