Classes were canceled in Chicago and other Midwestern cities on Friday, airlines scrapped thousands of weekend flights, churches moved Sunday services online, and the Grand Ole Opry theater in Nashville, Tennessee, decided to hold its Saturday night show without an audience. Freezing rain fell across parts of the U.S. state of Texas on Friday, as a massive winter storm began that is expected to last for days. It threatens snow, ice, sleet, and subzero temperatures, as well as widespread power outages affecting about half of the U.S. population. Weather experts warned that the damage, especially in areas hit by ice, could reach hurricane levels. Utility companies are preparing for power outages because trees and power lines coated in ice can continue to fall for a long time after the storm passes. Carnival parades in Louisiana were canceled or rescheduled. Ice and snow warnings were issued for at least 182 million people, while cold weather warnings were issued for more than 210 million people. In many places, the warnings overlapped.
