Powerful winter storm to bring heavy snow across much of US this weekend

Storm expected to hit from south Rockies and plains into mid-south on Friday before spreading east

A powerful winter storm is set to sweep across much of the US this weekend, bringing potentially record-breaking cold, heavy snow and ice that forecasters warn could cause hazardous conditions, power outages and travel disruptions.

The storm is expected to bring widespread heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain" from the southern Rockies and the plains into the mid-south on Friday, before spreading east to the mid-Atlantic and New England areas this weekend, according to the US National Weather Service. The impact in New England will potentially linger into Monday.