A winter storm descending on the US is expected to deliver heavy snow and ice to more than 150 million people across roughly two dozen states. Forecasts predict the storm will plunge Texas into a deep freeze before moving eastward and hitting major Northeast cities such as New York City and Boston.

The National Weather Service is predicting "dangerously cold temperatures" later this week in Minnesota, with wind chills forecast to drop to 40 below zero or colder in some areas.