Snow and ice will bring areas of slippery travel to the northern tier at midweek before a large late-week storm spreads rain, snow and thunderstorms with major travel problems across much of the central and eastern U.

A powerful winter storm system moving across the Great Lakes and Northeast is bringing snow and ice, frigid temperatures and possible whiteout conditions.

A handful of Maine communities have also instituted parking bans as a result of the storm, including Bath, Cape Elizabeth, Freeport, Sanford-Springvale and Topsham.

An Arctic blitz of snow, sleet and hail showers has brought freezing temperatures to the UK, with -12.5C recorded last night, the coldest of winter so far. The cold snap is set to continue, with Storm Goretti bringing heavy snow on Thursday.

Thirty years ago, the northeastern United States experienced one of the biggest snowstorms of the 20th century. The Blizzard of 1996 resulted from a nor'easter that occurred from Jan. 6 to 8. A snowy winter on the East Coast has weather and history buffs looking back at one of the biggest storms of our lifetimes.

While rain and snow associated with Storm Goretti are forecast to clear eastward during Friday night, forecasters said the cold is expected to linger. Below-average temperatures are likely to persist through the weekend, with continued snow and ice hazards.