Brutally cold” air is expected to settle in behind the storm that will affect a dozen states, from eastern Colorado to Maryland.

A major winter storm began Saturday in the central U.S. and was forecast to move east over the next several days, producing heavy snow, significant ice and frigid temperatures, according to the National Weather Service.

A mixture of freezing rain, sleet, and snow have been seen across the St. Louis region on Sunday. FOX 2 extreme weather specialist Chris Higgins explains the difference between freezing rain and sleet and the danger they bring to roadways.

Winter storm warnings will take effect at noon on Sunday. On Sunday, the morning will stay dry, but snow will move in by the afternoon. Highs will reach the upper 20s to low 30s. Snow will mix with or transition to sleet and freezing rain by Sunday evening and continue through the early overnight hours.

It’s the type of winter weather we see more frequently and don’t really have a tough time identifying. Snowflakes are able to reach the ground – and not turn into freezing rain or sleet – when the temperature is at or below 32 degrees from the cloud base to the ground.

Our area turned into a snowglobe Sunday morning with the winter storm rolling its way on through. It won't be snow all day for most of us, however. Let's dive

A major, disruptive winter storm was sweeping across the central U.S. on Sunday, forecasters said, bringing with it a dreaded combination of snow, ice and plunging temperatures. The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings from Kansas and Missouri — where blizzard conditions are expected — to New Jersey.

A blast of snow, ice, wind and plunging temperatures stirred up dangerous travel conditions in parts of the central U.S. on Sunday, as a disruptive winter storm brought the possibility of the “heavies