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.

More than 4,000 flights were cancelled in the US as a massive winter storm dumped snow and freezing rain from New Mexico to North Carolina as it swept across the United States towards the northeast.

Winter Storm Warnings are in effect for the entire state, with dangerous travel conditions expected as snowfall accumulations will reach 12 to 20 inches of snow across most of the state.