This was a live blog on the powerful winter storm and arctic blast that impacted the U.S. just before Christmas Weekend. For the latest, check the WeatherRadar before heading outside.

Dangerously cold air will stick around for much of the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. this weekend. Layer up and check conditions before heading outside over the next couple of days. Weather & Radar meteorologists will continue to provide you with the latest forecast into the New Year.

Subzero temperatures will build in through the night and heavy snow continues for the Great Lakes Region. More than half a million are without power in New England as of 8:35 p.m. ET.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz had declared a peacetime emergency and authorized the National Guard to assist in rescuing stranded motorists stuck in blizzard conditions in southwest Minnesota.

Whiteout conditions have developed in Buffalo, N.Y. and power outages continue throughout the Northeast. More than 495,000 are without power in New England, and just over 400,000 without power in the Mid-Atlantic. It's going to be a frigid night for millions.

The Iowa Department of Transportation has closed north and south bound I-35 from Ames to Clear Lake due to hazardous driving conditions.

Blizzard conditions are underway in western New York. A wind gust of 72 mph was recorded at Buffalo Niagara International Airport. The highest waves since Superstorm Sandy are expected over Lake Erie. Waves will crest upwards of 20 feet.

The winter storm continues to move east. Its center is traveling over far southeastern Canada. Precipitation has been mostly in liquid form across New England, with some spots over interior Massachusetts and Upstate New York getting from snow flurries to heavy snow as it's the case for western Mass.

Contrary to other fronts, Florida will experience freezing temperatures throughout the weekend. Temperatures are falling through the afternoon as the cold front pushes south over the Peninsula. By sunset, Orlando will be in the mid-50s but the strong gusts could make the temperatures feel much colder. South Florida, the cold front will be passing around 6 p.m.

Miami will turn very cold tonight. By Saturday afternoon, the temperatures will struggle to reach 60 degrees in Miami, and Sunday will remain in the mid-50s across the entire South Florida area. The winds will also make the temperatures feel much colder throughout the weekend.

Just FYI, because the active weather pattern continues: Another system is approaching the Pacific Northwest. Icy conditions have prompted the closure of Seattle-Tcome International Airport. Airport authorities announced that the airport is closed indefinitely as they continue to de-ice surfaces.

Frigid air continues to push east. It is estimated that about 240 million Americans are under some sort of winter advisory or warning. The latest data coming from poweroutage.us shows that North Carolina and Virginia have over 100,000 customers without power each. In fact, most power outages are affecting the Northeast, Texas, and much of the Southeast.

In total across the nation, there are over 1.2 million customers without power just as the coldest air mass is about to take over the very populated cities along the Eastern Seaboard.

This goes hand in hand with where the winds have started to pick up quickly this morning. Our WindRadar shows the winds are still out of the southwest across much of New England, hauling over Portland, Maine at 65 mph. Boston is not too far behind with winds at 40 mph and they are bound to get stronger as the center of the low-pressure system (the winter storm) approaches this afternoon.

The cold front is currently entering the Mid-Atlantic region. the winds have shifted and will also start to pick up as the cold air mass moves in.

Friday will be a dangerous day across parts of the Mid-Atlantic region. Ice could be built across some locations which will make the roads and sidewalks very dangerous. Please stay indoors.

A deep freeze in the South, including Texas, continues to intensify today! The extremely cold temperatures are still taking over the Northern Plains and this frigid air mass is expected to move east and take over the eastern fringe of the nation.

Airlines have canceled numerous flights due to the weather with airports in Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and eventually Philadelphia, New York, and Boston feeling the brunt of weather headaches. Even South Florida airports are feeling the effects of the cancellations with lots of people stuck and not being able to make it to their northern destinations. In fact, flight cancellations have mounted as many destinations around the world are affected, as there has been a domino effect felt around the globe.

Drivers are also caught in dangerous conditions. Remember if you must not leave, please don't, especially if roads are icy. Most importantly if you are not used to driving under winter weather conditions, stay at a secure place until conditions improve