ARLINGTON, Va. − A wall of snow, ice and rain was sweeping across the Northeast on Thursday, the first in a series of storms forecast to wallop much of the nation's northern tier over the next several days.

A powerful ice storm is set to affect the Midwest and Northeast of the U.S., bringing treacherous conditions, including freezing rain, sleet and potential power outages. Meteorologists warn that travel disruptions and hazardous road conditions will be widespread from Wednesday into Thursday.

A winter storm covered the Northeast and Midwest regions of the United States with snow and ice on Feb. 5-6 prompting school closures across the regions. Sightings of lightning and thunder snow have also been reported.