In photos: Major winter storm blasts much of the U.S. with snow and icy conditions

A significant winter storm affecting much of the U.S. has triggered emergency declarations across several states, impacting millions with heavy snow and hazardous conditions.

With over 320,000 power outages reported across five states as of Monday morning, Virginia alone accounted for more than 102,000 of these outages due to severe weather patterns.

This winter storm is linked to the polar vortex, where air circulation changes can lead to severe Arctic outbreaks impacting large regions with harsh winter weather.

The National Weather Service (NWS) warns of hazardous ice accumulations and dangerously low wind chill temperatures, forecasting conditions between -10 and -25 degrees Fahrenheit.

Read at Axios