A major winter storm is set to spread heavy snow and damaging ice across a large portion of the United States over the coming days. Dangerously cold temperatures will only worsen the storm and increase its danger.

Central North Carolina is under a winter storm warning for Saturday and Sunday, when widespread freezing rain is expected to leave a coating of ice.

Areas including parts of Texas and Oklahoma have already seen at least 6 inches of snow, while Tennessee had already seen 4 inches in some areas.

A high-impact winter storm will spread snow and ice across more than two dozen states from Texas through the Carolinas and Massachusetts from Friday through the weekend. The amount and extent of snow and ice could cut power and disrupt travel for days,

Meteorologists warn that a stretched polar vortex could bring severe winter weather to much of the United States.

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.

Winter weather alerts are now in effect. Here's who's under it and what it means