Tens of millions of residents along the East Coast are bracing for several inches of snow Sunday followed by dangerously cold temperatures that will grip much of the country from the Northern Plains to the tip of Maine.

A polar vortex is slated to sweep most of the continental US bringing winter storm warnings and a hazardous freeze to millions.

Parts of east-central Alabama, including the Birmingham metro area, will be under an extreme cold warning, which means that dangerously cold wind chills are expected. Very cold temperatures are possible during the day on Monday as well, with many locations staying below freezing all day.