how much snow Bomb cyclone in weekend forecast on East Coast.

While much of the United States is still cold, parts of the South are set to see snow and strong winds with possible blizzard conditions along coastal areas.

A major winter storm warning is in effect from Georgia to Virginia, the National Weather Service said Saturday, Jan. 31. Heavy snow and gusty winds are expected from the southern Appalachians in Georgia to coastal areas of the Carolinas and southeastern Virginia.

Snow and wind gusts are expected to be strongest in North Carolina, where forecasters warn the bomb cyclone will cause dangerous conditions.

The weather service said 8 to 12 inches of snow is possible due to wind blowing snow. Near the Outer Banks, the area could see winds of up to 70 mph, near hurricane-force winds, with little snow but with warnings for coastal flooding.

“Now is the time to hit,” Scott Kennedy, a weather service meteorologist at the North Carolina-based agency’s Morehead City office, told USA Today, adding that snow had begun to accumulate early Saturday morning.

Later, the weather service forecast that arctic air would bring record cold temperatures and wind chills, near and below 0 degrees, to the Southeast by Tuesday.

More than 130 million people are on cold and winter storm alerts over the weekend, Brandon Buckingham, an AccuWeather meteorologist, said in a statement.

How much snow has fallen?

What is the winter storm forecast for the weekend?

The coastal cyclone is expected to bring moderate to heavy snow with high winds and possible blizzard conditions to the Carolinas through Saturday night, the Weather Service’s Weather Forecast Center said in a forecast briefing. The eastern seaboard is set to experience high winds and coastal flooding.

A core of arctic air is forecast to sink “unusually far south” into lows in the Southeast for the rest of the weekend. By Sunday morning, South Florida could see temperatures below freezing.

Daily low temperatures are expected to challenge or break through the mid-Atlantic southward over the weekend into early next week.

Elsewhere, the Plains and Great Lakes will see a mix of rain and snow with cooler temperatures from January 31 to February 1.

How to stay safe in winter?

If you must go outside, be sure to wear waterproof boots and bundle up with loose layers, so the air between them keeps you warm — as well as hats, scarves and gloves to maintain body heat, according to the National Institute on Aging.

You should also know the symptoms of frostbite and hypothermia, which can be life-threatening, as Ready.gov explains.

If you must drive, be sure to drive slowly and be aware that black ice is difficult to see. Check to make sure the car is in good condition; Check the fluid level, windshield wiper and gas level. Let someone know your times and routes and keep a survival kit, just in case.

High winds and heavy snow can also cause power outages, so be prepared with extra supplies.

When it’s time to get out the shovel, make sure to take steps to do so safely. According to the American Heart Association, shoveling snow can cause injuries and heart attacks due to increased heart rate and blood pressure in the cold. USA TODAY has an explainer on when the storm will move.

Contributing: Jeanine Santucci, Melina Khan and Janet Loehrke USA TODAY

(This story was updated to change or add photos or videos.)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Much Snow? The forecast calls for a bomb cyclone to focus its fury on the Carolinas.