National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists have issued winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories for 13 states as of Thursday morning as winter storms unleash impacts across the Northern Plains, Midwest, and Northeast.

A long-awaited blast of cold air, courtesy of the polar vortex, will overtake much of the US, but the forecast says the low temperatures won't last.

On Monday at 1:27 a.m. the NWS Seattle WA issued a winter storm watch valid from Tuesday 10 p.m. until Wednesday 10 p.m. The watch is for Cascades of Whatcom and Skagit counties, Cascades of Snohomish and Northern King counties,

Although the storm will move out of the region quickly, its impacts could cause widespread disruptions to daily life.

A strong geomagnetic storm is forecast for Tuesday, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center.

A First Alert was in effect as a winter storm brought snow across the Philadelphia region Saturday night into Sunday morning.

Storm Byron has hit Gaza, worsening the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn area. Heavy rains have flooded tent camps, leaving Palestinians in dire conditions.

Storm Bram is the second named storm of the season and takes its name from Dracula author and Dublin native, Bram Stoker. It follows Storm Amy in October, which caused widespread damage and disruption. One man died in Donegal in what was described as a weather related incident.