Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Nearly half of the United States from the Midwest to Northeast will see snow or a freezing rain mix before the weekend arrives, weather forecasters say.
"A storm sweeping across the central and eastern United States will bring a swath of hazardous freezing rain through Thursday," AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham warned Wednesday.
At least 22 states from Oklahoma to Vermont were under ice or snow alerts by morning hours Wednesday as the precipitation was to begin in the Plains region from Oklahoma to Missouri and then covers the rest of the Midwest later in the day.
Some Midwest states will see its first ice storm in years, while more than 10 inches of snow had already accumulated in western Montana, blanketing cars and homes, according to reports.
Buckingham said the major impacted metropolitan areas expected to see at least a glaze of ice or worse include, but will not be limited to Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Washington and Philadelphia.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Turnpike Commission has updated planned vehicle restrictions in response to updated weather forecasts, with state officials suggesting motorists avoid unnecessary travel during the storm and to exercise caution when driving.
"As the mild air mass clashes with frigid air farther north, the ingredients for a major ice storm are expected to be in place beginning Wednesday across a zone spanning from the Midwest to the Great Lakes," Buckingham said.
He added that severe thunderstorms and a "dangerous" ice storm with an accumulation of snow will all be expected between Wednesday and Thursday as the storm "races" east.
Meanwhile, an ice storm warning was in effect for the Appalachian Mountain region from West Virginia to neighboring Pennsylvania, where a "significant" accumulation of ice is viewed as likely.
On Thursday, "widespread" wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph are in the forecast in the Great Lakes region before hitting the Northeast by Friday.
And "significant" icing is poised to occur Wednesday night mainly along or near the Interstate 70 and 80 corridors in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.
In addition, up to one-half inch of ice buildup in the north-central Appalachian region is possible.
The 1,925-mile-long I-95 corridor -- which runs north to south along the Eastern Seaboard -- is under a winter weather advisory for up to 2 inches of snow and ice.
And cities at risk for "long-lasting power outages, downed tree limbs and nearly impossible travel conditions" as a result of the looming storm include Cumberland, Md., into Pennsylvania as far north as Harrisburg, State College and Williamsport.
The storm will hit New York City by Thursday morning, making travel "extremely treacherous," meteorologists said.
The New England region and inland Northeast, meanwhile, will see ice road conditions likely into the afternoon and 1 to 3 inches of snow. Higher northern elevations in New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine could see up to half a foot.
As it persists, the big Northeast cities will see conditions flip over to rain. But farther north, snow is expected for part or most of the raging winter storm.
More snow and ice storms are possible in the Northeast and Midwest over the weekend.
"A clash of warm, humid air and cold Arctic air will result in a myriad of impactful weather for millions of Americans this week," Buckingham wrote earlier in the week.
