If certain atmospheric conditions align, more than half of the U.S. could see significant snowfall later this week and weekend.

New York is experiencing one of the coldest stretches of the winter, with dangerously low temperatures and brutal wind chills expected through Sunday. See the latest.

The snow is intercepted by a conifer snow umbrella that keeps the snow off the ground. The thick interlacing needles of hemlock, pine, and spruce intercept about 60% of the snow. This phenomenon also insulates the space beneath.