A massive winter storm is threatening to wreak havoc across the U.S. in the days ahead — and potentially take a financial toll on households in its path.
The National Weather Service said Friday that it expects a "significant, long-duration winter storm" to bring heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain to broad swath of the U.S., from the Southern Rockies to New England, lasting from Friday through Monday.
Snowfall may exceed a foot in certain areas, while "locally catastrophic ice accumulations" and frigid temperatures may trigger long-term power outages, extensive tree damage and widespread travel disruptions, according to the National Weather Service.
The storm may impact more than 170 million households, the National Weather Service said early Friday.
Despite the financial costs of such storms, households can take steps to dampen the economic hit, financial experts said.
