A significant Arctic blast is plunging temperatures below freezing for over 70% of the U.S., affecting 222 million people. Heavy snowfall has resulted in shocking totals, particularly in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, where some areas are facing up to 5 feet of snow. As travelers make their way home post-Thanksgiving, conditions are turning treacherous with severe weather advisories in effect. Frostbite warnings have been issued in regions expecting temperatures to drop as low as -40. The brutal cold is expected to persist through midweek before a brief reprieve, though warnings of new snow and bitter air remain. Millions are bracing for dangerously cold wind chills, with forecasts indicating that the deep freeze may extend into the upcoming weekend.