A major winter storm — the season’s most extreme so far — is set to lash the eastern half of the United States with damaging ice and heavy snow late this week.

The fast-moving winter storms could dump foot or more of snow in portions of the Great Lakes and interior New England through this weekend.

Confidence is increasing that an arctic cold front could move into Texas by the end of the week, likely delivering the coldest air of the entire winter.

A major, widespread storm The Weather Channel is calling Winter Storm Fern is expected to bring snow and ice from Texas to the Northeast this weekend, Jan. 24-25.