Dozens of U.S. states declare emergency in response to widespread winter storm

A broad winter storm system is advancing across the United States, prompting governors in more than a dozen of states to issue emergency declarations as hazardous conditions loom from the South to the Northeast.

The National Weather Service forecasts significant snow, ice and freezing rain that may disrupt travel, knock out power and create dangerously cold conditions for tens of millions of residents over the coming days.

The storm prompted at least 14 states to declare states of emergency as hazardous conditions loom. According to ABC News live coverage, the storm's reach extends from the Southern Plains to the Northeast. State of emergency orders have been activated in jurisdictions including Texas, Georgia and several Carolinas, enabling mobilization of resources and pre-deployment of response teams ahead of peak storm impacts.

Airlines and travel services are already reporting mass cancellations and delays as operators brace for widespread disruption, while weather alerts cover a large proportion of the U.S. population. ABC News updates note that more than 1,400 flights have been scrapped ahead of the storm.

According to reporting from national outlets, the storm system could affect over 170 million people, with heavy snow expected in central and eastern regions and widespread ice accumulation forecast in parts of the South.

Officials have called on residents in affected regions to finalize preparations, secure essential supplies and limit travel until conditions improve.