'Life-threatening' cold hits much of U.S. in major winter storm. Here's what to know

Linda Rae uses a snowblower to clear her driveway during a snowstorm on Friday in Des Moines, Iowa. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Record-low temperatures and "life-threatening" levels of cold are happening across the U.S. through this weekend in the first significant Arctic outbreak of the winter, the National Weather Service says.

There have been weather advisories, watches, or warnings in every single state, as the severe weather impacts of the winter storm are forecast to stretch to much of the country.