Winter Storm Fern is gearing up to make a cross-country trek late this week and into the weekend, bringing winter weather impacts to over half of the country's population.

A potentially historic, massive winter storm will slam more than half of the United States today, moving east as it brings heavy snow, widespread ice accumulation and dangerous cold.

According to The Weather Company forecasters, Fern could affect over 230 million in the U.S. with significant snow and/or ice, two-thirds of the nation's estimated population.