By Brendan O’Brien

CHICAGO (Reuters] – On Thursday, a huge winter storm swept across the Northeast United States. The heavy snowfall made traveling difficult if it wasn’t impossible.

The National Weather Service (NWS), said that winter and icestorm warnings were still in force for large swathes of the United States, which extended from Texas to the Midwest and New England up until Friday morning.

CNN reports that more than 100 million residents in at least 25 US states had been issued winter weather warnings Thursday.

Parts of Texas and Arkansas are currently experiencing a severe ice storm. The weather service advised that more than half an inch of ice could accumulate in certain areas by Friday morning. This may cause power outages and tree damage, as well as dangerous travel conditions.

The storm dumped snow across the Midwest Wednesday and parts of the area could get another 6 inches (15 cm) on Thursday. High winds up to 35 miles (56km) an hour will bring snow and could reduce visibility.

Many school districts across the country, including Ohio and Michigan, cancelled class on Thursday. Dallas Schools closed all schools that were attended by more than 145,000 students Thursday and Friday.

Poweroutages.us reports that more than 50,000 Texas homes and businesses were without power Thursday morning. Another 25,000 Arkansas households and businesses were also affected.

Flightaware.com reports that more than 1000 flights had been cancelled in Dallas and Austin, and 500 from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. Over 4,000 flights have been cancelled.

It will bring down temperatures. According to the NWS, temperatures in some parts of the Plains and Mississippi Valley could drop as much as 20-40 degrees from the average within the next few days.