Snow, ice and freezing temperatures have hit parts of Europe, causing chaos. Treacherous conditions left at least five people dead in France and forced the cancellation of hundreds of flights.

Millions of Americans live in areas under winter storm alerts stretching from northern Minnesota to the Eastern Seaboard.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS) of Gray, Maine, tonight's storm will include a wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain, leaving up to three inches of snow and up to two tenths of an inch of ice. While the storm itself will not be major, the NWS warns that the freezing rain and ice will cause hazardous road conditions.

A round of steady snow overspreads the region late Tuesday evening, becoming most widespread overnight through sunrise Wednesday. Mixing with sleet, freezing rain and rain is likely in the St. Lawrence Valley and through the colder hollows of southern Vermont.

For those who must travel amid winter storms, they should drive defensively and be prepared for emergencies, NHTSA says. Here's what to do.

Louisville and other Kentucky cities will be under a winter weather advisory Monday night due to forecasted snow and ice accumulations.

A major winter storm is pummeling the Tri-State Area with snow and ice after New York and New Jersey declared states of emergency.

An Arctic blast has forced hundreds of schools to stay shut in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland with widespread snow and ice causing delays throughout Monday to road, rail and air travel. Yellow warnings for snow and ice are in place across much of the country, with a warning of more widespread snow later this week.