A polar vortex is expected to bring snow and ice to 26 states and D.C., threatening travel with blizzard conditions and record-low temperatures.

Several states across the U.S. are under alert as the new storm system approaches. Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Missouri have severe weather alerts in effect through Friday, January 10. Meanwhile, Tennessee, northern Alabama, and parts of Indiana and Kentucky will remain under warnings through Saturday.

Winter storm warnings were in place for 26 states across the U.S. from the National Weather Service (NWS) early Friday, with up to 14 inches of snow forecast for some parts of the country. Snow can cause travel disruptions and create hazardous driving conditions.

The pattern had been predicted to form for several months, and weak La Niña conditions were finally officially met this week.

Governors from Maryland, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky have declared a state of emergency in response to the polar vortex, which started a storm over the weekend.

Parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas began to see snowfall on Thursday as Southern states stretching to the Carolinas brace for the storm to reach them on Friday.

Temperatures are forecast to plummet below average for much of the nation, with the most severe cold gripping areas east of the Rocky Mountains and reaching as far south as the Gulf Coast and Florida. Dangerous wind chills are likely across many areas of the Southeast, too.

West Virginia: In western Grant and western Pendleton counties, 6 to 10 inches of snow is possible. In western Greenbrier County, 2 to 7 inches is predicted. Northern portions of the state could get 4 to 12 inches of snow, while the central and southeast sectors of the state could see 5 to 10 inches.

The developing storm system is forecast to bring heavy snow, crippling ice and severe weather across the country through the next three days.

A massive winter storm is set to bring snow and ice to much of the South. Here's what to know about snow forecasts in Texas, Georgia, and other states.

Another massive winter storm is forecast to pummel the southern and eastern U.S., with impacts from Texas to the Carolinas.