West Virginia has declared a state of emergency in response to the severe weather conditions impacting the region. 

West Virginia has declared a state of emergency in response to the severe weather conditions impacting the region

Approximately 60 million Americans are currently under winter weather alerts as several states face severe conditions. West Virginia has declared a state of emergency, joining Kentucky, Virginia, Kansas, Arkansas, and Missouri, who have all issued similar declarations.

Thirty states, stretching from the central U.S. to the East Coast, including major cities such as Washington DC and Philadelphia, are bracing for extreme winter weather.

Meteorologists attribute the intense weather to the polar vortex, a mass of cold air circulating around the Arctic region.

Stay with us for the latest updates. We also have an explainer on everything you need to know about the storm.