What to know about the storm

On Wednesday, the National Weather Service issued a warning saying that "nearly everyone east of the Rockies" will see some effect from the storm Friday through early next week.

Starting today, extremely cold air from the Arctic is expected to surge into the central and southeastern United States, according to Owen Shieh, a warning coordination meteorologist at the Weather Prediction Center. Temperatures are expected to drop as much as 30 degrees below normal, with wind chills dropping to around minus 50 degrees in the Upper Midwest.

According to Jennifer Tate, a meteorologist at the Weather Prediction Center, as the storm develops and heads through the South starting on Friday, it will pull moisture-rich air north from the Gulf of Mexico. Once that air collides with the bitter cold, it will produce large amounts of heavy snow, sleet, and ice.

Tate added that these cold conditions could allow snow and ice to linger into next week. "It could be a problem in terms of keeping that snow and ice on the ground and not being able to melt so quickly," she said.

On Wednesday, weather forecasters said the projected path of the storm had shifted farther north, which Tate said means the storm is expected to affect a wider area.

In addition, the boundary line between snow and ice also shifted north to areas around Philadelphia and New York; however, it's unclear how New York City will be impacted.

"New York City is unfortunately on the edge of this line," Tate said. "So they've got a bit of uncertainty, but they do now look like they're going to see more of that snow, because of that northward shift."

However, Tate warned that the more northern track of the storm doesn't mean areas in the Southeast are in the clear.

"It still looks like there will be some ice in the Southeast, including areas like Georgia," she said. "Because they will still have cold enough air at the surface to potentially get the freezing rain."

Snowfall amounts are uncertain right now, but Tate said on Wednesday that the latest forecast indicates accumulations could reach between eight and 12 inches in some areas, especially in Oklahoma City and Nashville. Parts of the Mid-Atlantic, particularly Virginia and Maryland, could see more than a foot of snow.

How to stay safe during a winter storm

Before the storm arrives, make sure you're prepared for a disruption to your daily life, Axios reports. This could mean impassable roads or prolonged outages, so ensure you have plenty of food and your batteries are charged.

If you lose power, do your best to keep your pipes from freezing by opening your cabinet doors to circulate whatever warm air is in your house around your pipes. You can also let outdoor spigots run at a trickle to prevent freezing.

If you're out shoveling snow, make sure you pay attention to your health. The American Heart Association says that shoveling snow can increase a person's risk for a cardiac event, especially men. Push snow whenever you can instead of lifting it.

Also, snowblowers aren't a guaranteed fix, as research has found pushing one can similarly raise a person's heart rate and blood pressure, Axios reports.

If you need to drive at some point, make sure you get all the ice and snow off your car first, and not just off your windows but your roof, hood, and headlights as well. Drive slowly, give yourself more time than usual to go around turns, and use your car's all-wheel drive, four-wheel drive, traction control, and/or "snow mode" if it has it, Axios reports.

If you have pets, don't forget to keep them warm too. Jackets can help warm a dog's core and booties can protect their paws from cold, salt, and ice when on a walk, Axios reports.

"If it feels too cold for you to be outside with a coat on for a long period of time, it probably is too cold for the animals, too," said veterinarian Lauren Zeid.