Extreme Winter Storm to Devastate Iowa and Threaten Southern and Eastern Coasts

Are you in the path of the storm? Save CNN's lite website for quick access on limited internet connection. A dangerous mix of strong winds, heavy snow, severe thunderstorms, and life-threatening cold is targeting the country, causing hazardous travel conditions and the risk of power outages in freezing temperatures. Here's the most recent update:

More than 66 million people under winter weather alerts Friday: The alerts stretch from Oregon to New York.

LIVE UPDATES: Powerful winter storm set to wallop eastern half of the US

Life-threatening blizzard conditions: Iowa faces a widespread blizzard warning, with 6 to 10 inches of snowfall expected to be compounded by wind gusts of over 40 mph.

Snow-covered trees, known as "snow monsters," create a stunning natural scene at Zao Ski Resort in Yamagata, Japan on January 20, 2018. The striking formation is a popular attraction for visitors. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

Are you prepared to survive being trapped in a blizzard? By Friday morning, travel is expected to become dangerous and visibility will be significantly reduced to near-whiteout conditions, according to the National Weather Service in Des Moines.

Exposure to the cold wind with temperatures dropping as low as 10 to 20 below zero could lead to frostbite in just 30 minutes and pose a potential danger to life for anyone stuck outside. The National Weather Service office in Des Moines has warned of an expected rise in winds on Friday morning, predicting blizzard conditions that could be life-threatening throughout the day and into the night.

Over 240 daily cold temperature records could potentially be tied or broken across the US by Tuesday, possibly shattering hundreds of record lows. This weekend, wind chills in some parts of Montana may plummet as low as -70 degrees. Additionally, the forecast suggests that by Tuesday, the high temperature in Memphis, Tennessee, might only reach 17 degrees, potentially setting a new record.

Over the coming week, over 55 million people will experience subzero temperatures. Additionally, the East Coast is at risk of heavy rainfall, with at least 35 million people from North Carolina to Massachusetts under flood watches on Friday. This additional rainfall is expected to hit areas that are still recovering from the severe storms and downpours earlier in the week.

Coastal flooding in the Northeast may lead to vehicle submersion: Over 7 million people are currently under flood warnings along the Northeast coastline. New York City is under a coastal flood advisory, and parts of Suffolk and Nassau counties could experience even more severe coastal flooding, with water levels potentially rising up to 3 feet above ground level in certain areas.

The National Weather Service office in New York has warned that this will result in widespread road closures and flooding of low-lying areas, including parking lots, parks, lawns, and the first floors and basements of homes and businesses near the waterfront. Vehicles parked in vulnerable areas by the waterfront are likely to be flooded or submerged. Additionally, flooding may extend inland from the usual flood-prone areas along the tidal rivers and bays, leading to flooding in areas that don't typically experience such events.

Philadelphia has been placed under a coastal flood warning for a significant portion of Saturday, while Boston is currently under a coastal flood watch for Saturday morning and afternoon. In addition, the South is facing a severe storm threat, with more than 50 million people at risk. Northern Alabama and Mississippi are particularly vulnerable to strong gusts, tornadoes, and potentially large hail.

Other cities in the South that could experience severe weather are Memphis, Charlotte, Atlanta, Raleigh, Birmingham, Jacksonville, New Orleans, Nashville, Virginia Beach, and Tampa.

Flight disruptions: Over 1,000 flights to, from, or within the US have been canceled for Friday, as reported by FlightAware.com.

What to expect in key cities

Chicago

Alert: A winter storm warning is in effect from 3 a.m. CT Friday until noon Saturday CT.

Snowfall: More than 8 inches of snow is expected, and snowfall rates could exceed 1 inch per hour.

Peak snowfall: The most intense snowfall is expected Friday morning and Saturday morning.

Winds: The strongest winds - between 25 to 45 mph - are expected Friday morning through Saturday.

What else to expect: Snow will mix with rain near Lake Michigan and limit snow accumulations after mid-Friday morning.

Des Moines, Iowa

Winter storm warning in effect until 10 a.m. CT Friday, followed by a blizzard warning from 10 a.m. CT Friday to 6 a.m. CT Saturday. A wind chill watch will be in effect from Saturday evening through Tuesday morning.

Expected snowfall: 6 to 11 inches during the winter storm warning, with life-threatening conditions expected during the blizzard warning due to heavy snow and fierce winds.

Peak snowfall: The heaviest snow is forecast between 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. CT Friday.

Winds: The strongest winds - between 30 to 45 mph - are expected Friday morning through Saturday.

Wind chill: Extremely cold wind reaching temperatures as low as 30 to 45 degrees below zero can pose a danger. Exposed skin could experience frostbite in just 10 minutes in these conditions.

Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Alert: A winter storm warning will be in effect from 10 a.m. ET Friday to 7 p.m. ET Saturday.

Snowfall: Between 8 to 14 inches of snow is forecast.

Expected peak snowfall is from 1 to 6 p.m. ET on Friday. Wind gusts could reach 50 mph, with speeds over 40 mph expected between noon and 7 p.m. ET on Friday, and again between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET on Saturday.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Alert: A winter storm warning is in effect from 6 a.m. CT Friday to noon CT Saturday.

Snowfall: Expected snow accumulations include 3 to 7 inches along the lakeshore to 6 to 11 inches farther inland.

Peak snowfall: The heaviest snowfall is forecast between 6 a.m. to noon CT Friday

Winds: Strong winds exceeding 30 mph - sometimes gusting up to 45 mph - are expected from Friday morning through Saturday.

Minneapolis

Alert: A winter weather advisory is in effect from 6 a.m. CT Friday to 6 a.m. CT Saturday.

Snowfall: Total snow accumulations could reach 4 to 7 inches.

Peak snowfall: The heaviest snowfall is expected between noon and 10 p.m. CT Friday.

Winds: Fierce winds of up to 35 mph are expected Friday afternoon through Saturday.

New York City

Alert: A coastal flood advisory is in effect for 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET Saturday.

There is a flood risk of 1 to 2 feet of inundation above ground level in vulnerable areas near the waterfront and shoreline. The weather service in New York warns that runoff during Saturday morning's high tide will worsen street and property flooding issues along tidal portions of the Hackensack and Passaic Rivers in Bergen, Essex, and Hudson Counties.

Philadelphia

Alert: A coastal flood warning is in effect from midnight Friday night to 7 p.m. Saturday.

Anticipated Flood Risk: Low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways may experience 1 to 2 feet of inundation above ground level.

According to the Philadelphia weather service office, this may result in widespread roadway flooding along tidal waterways and make some roads impassable. Additionally, minor damage to vulnerable structures may start to occur.

Boston

Alert: A coastal flood watch is in effect for Saturday morning and afternoon.

Flood risk: Up to 1 foot of flooding is possible.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

CNNs Taylor Ward and Joe Sutton contributed to this report.