Experts urge preparations as 200M Americans brace for winter storm

Millions of Americans have been warned to prepare back-up heat sources and stay off the roads as a record-breaking winter storm is set to wreak havoc across the US. Storm Fern is forecast to bring temperatures of -50F and up to 24 inches of snow to more than a dozen states on Friday through Monday. Many people have already started panic-buying frozen food and tinned goods as they get ready to hunker down for several days of extreme cold and torrential snow. Experts have advised preparing for the worst, by stocking up on ice, heat sources, blankets and warm clothing in case a prolonged power cut hits. The Red Cross recommends buying cheap Styrofoam coolers and ice to keep food fresh in the event of refrigerators being out of action.

The US-based charity also advises putting an emergency preparedness kit together to make sure you have everything you need to survive several days without power. It includes one gallon of water per person, tinned food, a flashlight, a battery-powered radio, first aid kit, a seven-day supply of medications, portable phone chargers, and making a note of emergency contact information. The Red Cross is also urging Americans to fill up their vehicle's gas tank in case they are told to evacuate due to dangerous storm conditions in their neighborhood. Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp has also told residents to make sure they have electric space heaters to hand in case their central heating cuts out.

His office also published a list of winter survival tools needed in case of a getaway, including an ice scraper, extra blanket, and jumper cables for their cars. 'As forecasts continue to evolve, Georgians should be prepared for freezing precipitation that causes dangerous conditions and the potential for damage and power loss beginning Saturday,' Kemp said in a statement. 'I have been working closely with state and local officials to ensure we are prepared for all scenarios. 'I'm urging all Georgians to take necessary precautions now to ensure their families and pets can stay safe, warm, and fed over the coming days.' Georgia is among the states expected to be worst-hit by the storm on Sunday.

Forecasters are warning of potentially devastating ice sheets and heavy snow, disrupting travel and leaving long-lasting power outages. Feared to be among the worst in recent memory, the storm is forecast to bring up to 24 inches of snow in the South in Arkansas and Tennessee. Meanwhile, Weather Channel forecasters issued the most severe type of ice warning - 'crippling' - for parts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. People living in affected areas can expect to see one tenth of an inch of ice. Those in southern states are accustomed to mild winters free of extreme winter weather, with even a small amount of snow or ice likely to cause widespread chaos.

A number of states have already declared states of emergency to deploy resources including the National Guard. The storm, named Winter Storm Fern, could go on to impact upwards of 180 million people - half of the US population- as snow, ice and storm damage is forecast for 33 states through Monday. The storm will develop northeast through the weekend, and states expected to be hit by severe weather stretch from New Mexico and Texas in the Southeast to Philadelphia, Washington DC and lower New York on the East Coast. In the South, some areas are expecting up to two feet of snow, with wind chill making it feel as cold as -3F in Dallas and Arkansas.

Storm Fern is forecast to begin by Friday afternoon, dumping snow, sleet and freezing rain on areas of Kansas, Oklahoma and western Texas before quickly moving through the south. By Friday night, meteorologists with Weather.combwarn that a 'wintry mess' of 'snow, sleet and ice' will spread through the Central Plains, lower Mississippi Valley and parts of Tennessee. As charts show the storm will then stretch East, several states including South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas and Maryland declared states of emergency to deploy resources to combat the damage. The worst of the storm is expected to hit on Saturday and Sunday, covering the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, parts of the Carolinas and northern Georgia.

On Saturday night, major cities will be blanketed in heavy snow of up to two feet. Affected cities are forecast to include Charlotte, Greenville-Spartanburg, Richmond, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York City, Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, Indianapolis, Louisville, Cleveland, and Cincinnati. By Sunday, the storm is expected to end in the southern states of Texas, Oklahoma and the Mississippi Valley. Areas of the Ohio Valley, Virginia and the Carolinas will continue to see bad weather, and much of the storm will stretch north east to New York.