A surge of Arctic air is projected to bring extremely cold temperatures, starting Friday and continuing into the weekend across a large section of the central and eastern United States, with certain areas in the Great Lakes and Northeast expected to receive several feet of snow during one of the busiest travel weekends nationwide.

This frigid Arctic air will be most concentrated in the northern Plains and upper Midwest until early next week, causing highs to fall into the single digits, teens, and 20s, according to AccuWeather. The National Weather Service has issued warnings for the region to prepare for “dangerously low wind chills.”

Throughout the extended holiday weekend, this cold air mass will spread south and east, dropping temperatures to around freezing from central Texas to northern Florida and up toward New York. Even places accustomed to cold will see temperatures plummet 10 to 20 degrees below average for late November and early December.

By Saturday morning, it is estimated that around 196 million Americans will wake up to sub-zero temperatures, as reported by Weather.com. For those living along the Interstate 95 corridor, “this will mark the coldest start to meteorological winter in several years,” says AccuWeather.

Wind chills pose risks of frostbite in mere minutes, experts caution

In these regions, wind chills may plummet as low as 30 degrees below zero.

The National Weather Service in Bismarck, North Dakota, warned that “exposed skin could develop frostbite in as little as 10 minutes due to the cold wind chills.”

Detroit officials advise caution on dangerous roads

As shoppers flock to stores for Black Friday sales, Michigan authorities cautioned residents to drive carefully on icy and snow-covered pavements.

While less than an inch of snow is anticipated in metro Detroit, it is enough to create slippery conditions. Michigan State Police noted that there’s “just enough snow to reveal risky driving tendencies,” urging everyone to act as if they have experience with winter driving conditions.

On Friday, state police announced that the westbound lanes of a section of Interstate 696 had been closed to allow road salt application by the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Police advised shoppers and travelers to maintain increased following distances to avoid accidents, pack a winter emergency kit, and remember to buckle their seatbelts, refrain from using phones while driving, yield to other vehicles, and prioritize kindness on the road.

– Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press

Erie, Pennsylvania declares snow emergency

Officials in Erie, Pennsylvania, declared a snow emergency on Friday, urging residents to refrain from driving and implementing strict travel rules as heavy snowfall began across the Great Lakes area.

Located by Lake Erie between Cleveland and Buffalo, Erie could receive between 30 to 50 inches of snow from Friday to Sunday.

The emergency declaration has extended parking regulations in the city for the weekend, according to a news release. Residents are instructed to park on the North or West side of the street on odd calendar days and on the south or east side on even days.

On I-90, I-79, and I-86 throughout the county, a speed limit of 45 mph has been imposed due to snow-covered roads, as stated by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. The highways are under a Tier 4 restriction, forbidding commercial vehicles, including trucks and buses, since early Friday morning.

– Nicholas Sorensen, Erie Times-News

Western New York braces for impending snowstorm

In western New York, officials have prohibited certain commercial vehicles from operating on the roads and have deployed over 100 National Guard members as they anticipate as much as 6 feet of snow in some areas through the early part of next week.

“As lake-effect snow approaches parts of Western New York, Central New York, and Northern New York, we are carefully monitoring the conditions and mobilizing resources where needed,” stated Gov. Kathy Hochul. “Together with local government partners, we are committed to ensuring the safety of New Yorkers and maintaining the security of our communities.”

Commercial vehicles were advised to stay off the roads in anticipation of hazardous weather conditions.

Restrictions were imposed on some sections of Interstates 96, 90, and 86, as well as State Route 219 in western New York starting at 3 p.m. on Friday.

Snow plow teams have begun to clear the roads throughout the area. The state’s Department of Transportation has urged residents to be cautious around snow plows and to “travel only if it’s absolutely necessary during snowstorms.”

Airports dealing with de-icing as cold weather arrives

The Federal Aviation Administration reported that teams were taking precautionary steps to ensure aircraft are safe to operate in freezing conditions.

Staff sprayed aircraft with de-icing fluid to eliminate snow and ice at several airports, including Albuquerque International Sunport in New Mexico, Burlington International Airport in Vermont, Akron-Canton Regional Airport in Ohio, and MBS International Airport in Michigan, according to the FAA.

While several airports in the upper Midwest and Northeast warned travelers to drive carefully as snow accumulated, FlightAware, a flight tracking website, reported no major delays at airports on Friday.

Forecasters caution about dangerous driving due to snow

Motorists in the Great Lakes region should exercise increased caution on Friday and throughout the weekend, as freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall are anticipated to make roads slippery and visibility poor.

Winter storm warnings and advisories are in effect from northern Wisconsin to Michigan and western New York, with some areas projected to receive as much as 6 feet of snow by early next week. During peak snowfall, rates could reach up to 5 inches per hour.

“If a traveler gets stranded, the situation can escalate into a life-threatening emergency considering the conditions,” warned AccuWeather meteorologist Jonathan Porter in a forecasting report.

“Travel could become very challenging to impossible,” stated the weather service in Marquette, Michigan. Similar alerts were issued for areas across the Great Lakes. “These risky conditions may affect both the Friday morning and evening commutes as well as holiday travel plans.”

Freeze warnings and watches in effect for Texas and Florida

In the South, freeze warnings and watches for temperatures dropping into the low 30s will take effect on Friday night from eastern Texas to northern Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas.

“Please take precautions to safeguard young children, the elderly, and the homeless,” advised the weather service in Jacksonville, Florida. “To avoid frozen pipes, insulate them or let them drip slowly. Act now to protect sensitive plants from the cold.”

Where will snow be likely?

On Friday, light snow is expected in parts of the Central Appalachians, as reported by the weather service. By Saturday, light to moderate snowfall is anticipated from the central Mississippi Valley to the central Appalachians.

Most of the west coast of Michigan’s lower peninsula will experience lighter snowfall, while the northern lower Peninsula of Michigan will see significant lake-effect snow. Additionally, heavy lake-effect snowfall is projected to develop downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario through Sunday, according to the weather service.

Forecasters predict a low-pressure system over parts of the central Plains, moving eastward toward the central Appalachians by Sunday, generating light to moderate snowfall from Saturday into Sunday morning.

Rain expected to hit Florida and Gulf Coast states this weekend

Meteorologists are anticipating that a slow-moving front across Florida will produce rain and thunderstorms from Friday into Saturday, affecting the state and other areas of the central Gulf Coast.

This rainfall will coincide with a decrease in temperatures in the region as a wave of Arctic air moves in.

(This article was updated to include new information.)