Florida - the "Sunshine State" better known for palm trees, beaches and balmy weather - saw its first snow in nearly three decades in northern parts of the state. Roads were closed in northern Florida and southeastern Georgia, where Governor Nathan Deal declared a state of emergency in coastal areas.
Florida's Governor Rick Scott urged people there "to prepare for extreme cold weather conditions, including potential snow, sleet or ice accumulations." With up to a foot (30.5 centimeters) of snow expected in New York, accompanied by powerful windgusts, schools were closed. More than a foot of the white stuff was expected in Boston.
Mayor Bill de Blasio urged New Yorkers to stay off the roads and take the storm "very seriously." The storm could bring "very dangerous conditions," he warned Wednesday.
Wind gusts of up to 55 miles (88.5 kilometers) per hour were expected through Friday on Long Island and southeastern Connecticut, with wind chills as low as minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 29 Celsius), increasing the risk of frostbite and hypothermia from prolonged exposure. Blowing and drifting snow reduced visibility, and downed trees and power lines were likely.
"Very anomalous and potent winter storm system currently developing as it moves northward towards New England bringing multiple hazards: moderate to heavy snow, low visibility, strong to damaging winds, coastal flooding, and hazardous seas," the National Weather Service said in a forecast discussion. Airlines have scrapped more than 3,000 flights so far due to the storm.
Nearly 75 percent of flights out of Boston and New Jersey's Newark airports were cancelled due to the snow and other adverse weather conditions, according to flight tracker FlightAware, though only about a quarter of flights to and from New York's main John F. Kennedy airport were scrapped. Air France announced it was cancelling all flights Thursday and Friday from Paris to New York and Boston.
About 12 deaths have already been blamed on the frigid temperatures this week. Winter storm warnings were in effect from the Mid-Atlantic region northward through New England, meaning that hazardous conditions were imminent.
In Washington, federal agencies opened two hours late and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced the chamber would hold no further votes this week, shortening what was already a short workweek due to the New Year's holiday. Senators had only returned to the upper chamber Wednesday, and they face a series of critical votes in the coming weeks, including on funding to prevent a government shutdown and spending cuts.