The storm has caused severe air travel disruptions. According to FlightAware, more than 1,800 flights in and out of the U.S. have been canceled so far, including nearly 500 at Reagan National and more than 250 at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, which issued a temporary ground stop earlier Monday due to snow and ice.

Tens of millions were under winter storm advisories and tens of thousands of homes and businesses were without power late Monday as the storm stretched from Kansas to Virginia and

The first major winter storm of the new year barreled into the U.S. mid-Atlantic states on Monday, closing down federal offices and public schools in Washington, D.C., after dumping a foot of snow in parts of the Ohio Valley and Central Plains.

Millions should prepare for disrupted travel and winter conditions as a fierce storm is set to bring ice, snow and freezing rain to much of the U.S. Middle Tennessee is expected to experience an "all snow event" on Friday.