Even afterward, meteorologist Allison Santorelli sees bitter cold "across basically the entirety of the eastern two-thirds of the nation."

Impacts from what could be the most significant storm of winter are expected to begin on Friday, spreading ice, snow and cold across much of the U.S.

“Behind the storm it’s just going to get bitterly cold across basically the entirety of the eastern two-thirds of the nation, east of the Rockies."