This is where an ice storm could hit in the US this weekend

The arctic blast affecting much of the continental US may soon be over, but one region is bracing for another cold-related weather event this week.

The eastern half of the US from Minnesota to northern Florida and New England was blanketed in cold conditions Friday morning, a continuation of the freezing temperatures experienced across the country in recent days.

Wind chills Friday morning were below zero degrees Fahrenheit in Minneapolis, near zero in Chicago and in the teens and single digits in the Northeast.

Temperatures are near freezing in northern Florida and southern Georgia, where a freeze warning has been issued.

Lake effect snow — the result of cold air moving over the Great Lakes while they are still free of ice — brought 3.5 feet of snow to western New York and up to 20 inches to northern lower Michigan on Thursday. Winds approached 40 mph, creating whiteout conditions in the heaviest bands of lake-effect snow.

Lake-effect snow warnings continued Friday morning for Ohio, Pennsylvania and western New York, with some areas piling up between 6 inches and a foot of snow, forecasters said.

The cold air will last one more day on Saturday before a moderating trend begins on Sunday and into most of the East next week.

However, the new storm system is moving into the Plains and Midwest by Friday morning. The National Weather Service has issued an ice storm warning for Iowa and other ice alerts from Kansas to Minnesota.

Cities like Des Moines, Minneapolis and Omaha are under alert starting Friday and continuing into Saturday morning.

Freezing rain can glaze roads to over half an inch, creating treacherous driving conditions.

What is an ice storm?

When temperatures are below freezing, heavy precipitation can cause an ice storm National Weather Service.

Accumulations of ice power downed trees, communication towers and utility poles, according to the NWS. In addition, the ice storm could produce black ice — broken ice on roads or other transportation surfaces that is not easily visible — and ice floes on lakes and streams, which could cause severe flooding, the NWS said.

How to Prepare for an Ice Storm

NWS he advises the residents under the threat of a winter storm, to ensure that homes, vehicles and offices are stocked with essential supplies such as chargers, food, first aid, fuel and jumper cables.

The agency also advised residents to make sure they have the necessary supplies for pets and farm animals.