Powerful winter storm leads to cancellation of more than 9,000 flights

A powerful winter storm is sweeping across the United States, bringing snow, ice and frigid temperatures and prompting authorities to warn of dangerous travel conditions and possible power outages. 

Governors in many states declared a state of emergency in advance of the storm.

The system, which began spreading across northwest Texas and Oklahoma on Friday, is the first in a series of storm fronts expected to impact a large portion of the nation through the weekend and into early next week. 

From Texas through the South and up into the Northeast, forecasters have issued a wide array of winter storm warnings, placing more than 140 million people under alerts for heavy snow, ice accumulation and extreme cold.

Officials said the storm’s combination of freezing rain and heavy snow could be hazardous for road travel and infrastructure.  

So far, more than 9,000 flights have reportedly been canceled due to the major storm. 
 
Trump wrote Friday on social media that he has been briefed on the historic storm.

"The Trump Administration is coordinating with State and Local Officials. FEMA is fully prepared to respond. Stay Safe and Stay Warm!" he wrote.