Preparations are underway as an arctic blast dives into the nation's interior and southern regions and pushes a snowstorm into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast that will be followed by lethal cold.

Temperatures will plummet by up to 40 degrees this weekend as an arctic blast spreads across much of the U.S., including the Deep South.

Farther north, in the mountains of northern New England, snow will fall at higher elevations, with summit accumulations of 2–4 inches likely. The rain will taper off by late evening, but don’t let your guard down. Overnight, temperatures will fall to near freezing in Boston and drop below freezing north of the city.