The storm front that has provided a rainy respite for firefighters in California was beginning its roll across the nation Tuesday, forecast to spread rain, snow and ice along a 2,600-mile stretch from the Southwest to Northeast by the weekend, meteorologists say.

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

The cold temperatures coming this weekend and early next week are the result of an arctic airmass from Canada dropping first into central Montana and the Rocky Mountain Front, according to Brian Conlan, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Missoula Forecast Office.

The NWS has issued storm and extreme cold warnings this weekend as powerful Arctic winds plunge temperatures nationwide.

BISMARCK, N.D. — Another blast of winter weather is expected in parts of the U.S. in the coming days, including bone-chilling wind in the Northern Plains and unusual snow and ice in the Gulf ...

according to the National Weather Service. After descending over the Rockies and Great Plains, forecasters said the arctic air will plunge onto the Deep South and Great Lakes by Saturday night ...