Photos show empty supermarket shelves as millions across the US brace for Winter Storm Fern

• Winter storm Fern is expected to impact more than 30 US states starting Friday morning.
• Forecasts are predicting heavy snow, freezing rain, and dangerous wind chills.
• Across states, people are stocking up on essentials, leaving store shelves empty.

Preparations are underway as over half of all US states brace for what could be a historic winter storm this weekend.

Across the country, Americans are stocking up on essentials and picking store shelves clean as they brace for Winter Storm Fern, which is expected to span from the South and Mid-Atlantic to the Northeast and Midwest, starting Friday morning.

Local authorities have begun salting roads and establishing emergency protocols in anticipation of potential power outages and limited travel.

Experts and authorities are advising people in affected states to stock up on food items that don't need to be cooked or refrigerated, and to have at least one gallon of water per person or pet per day. They are also recommending that people charge all electronic communication devices in case of power outages. They're warning to watch out for pipes bursting, snow blocking exhaust vents, and iced-over roads.

The Weather Channel predicted Thursday that wintry conditions, including ice, snow, and dangerous wind chills, could affect up to 230 million people — or two-thirds of the country's population — across the US.

The Midwest will experience the coldest temperatures as a polar vortex dips south, with lows possibly reaching -50 degrees Fahrenheit in states like North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, the Associated Press reported Thursday.

The Appalachians and the Northeast Corridor could see the most snow accumulation, with the mountains of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia expected to receive at least a foot of snow over the weekend.

From Texas to the Carolinas, the South and Southeast can expect ice accumulation on roads and power lines. Local authorities are warning of potential multi-day power outages in the region.

See how Americans are preparing for what could be a historic storm, from stocking up on necessities to salting roads.

Shelves in a North Carolina Walmart were almost completely empty on Thursday as residents stocked up ahead of the storm.

In Marietta, Georgia, residents also cleared a store's shelves of bottled water.

In Nashville, locals are following the "bread, milk, eggs" approach in their pre-storm shopping.

Experts recommend stocking up on items that don't need to be cooked or refrigerated.

This supermarket in Nashville was also low on fresh produce on Wednesday.

Many are preparing to be stuck at home for days, with forecasts warning of roads icing over.

A sign outside a Lowe's in North Carolina listed storm-supply items that had sold out.

Other hardware stores advertised available supplies.

Shoppers in Morganton, North Carolina, bought up supplies like ice melt ahead of the storm.

Lines for gas also formed as residents stocked up.

Others bought up wood as the storm threatened power outages across multiple states.

A "Winter storm special" was even available at one North Carolina store.

In Richardson, Texas, authorities were salting roads on Wednesday in anticipation of the storm.

Illinois and other Midwestern states could be hit with life-threatening wind chills.

Nashville was also mobilizing salt trucks as of Thursday.

Salt brine helps prevent roads from icing ahead of snowstorms.

Some parts of New York are expected to see heavy snow accumulation in the double digits.

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