US braced for storms threatening heavy snow and freezing rain

A combination of heavy snow, freezing rain and sleet is in store (AP/Nam Y. Huh)

The US states of Texas and Oklahoma are braced for heavy snow and ice from a winter storm threatening catastrophic damage, extensive power outages and bitterly cold weather.

A combination of heavy snow, freezing rain and sleet is in store from the Southern Rockies to New England until Monday and could affect more than 170 million people across the nation, the US National Weather Service said.