Large swaths of the U.S. are facing severe weather. Here's what to know

A person uses a snowblower to clear snow in front of a home in Methuen, Mass., on Sunday. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)

Severe weather is already battering parts of the U.S. or will in the coming hours and days, meteorologists say.

From blizzard conditions in the Southwest to more precipitation in the Northeast, people across the country are bracing for bad weather and, in some cases, extreme conditions that could hamper travel.