Historic winter storm creates life threatening weather conditions

That historic storm and life threatening deep freeze blanketing much of the country as millions hit the road for the holidays. Blizzard and blinding whiteout conditions making for dangerous travel. Snow and bitter cold in Buffalo, NY paralyzing that city in Queens. Heavy rain and flooding stranding drivers trapped in their cars requiring rescues. Heavy rain and gusty winds creating a storm surge in coastal communities up the northeast all the way to Maine. Snow, ice and freezing rain causing thousands of accidents.

Nationwide, 50 cars were involved in this deadly pile up on the Ohio Turnpike. Police dashcam video captured this transformer exploding in liberty, MO. Temperatures dipping for 2/3 of the country now, many places feeling a 30 degree plunge in just 24 hours. Nashville dropping to below 0 for the first time in more than 25 years. More than 5000 flights canceled, leaving millions of travelers stranded at airports just two days before Christmas. We've got team coverage.

Tonight Elwyn Lopez and Rob Marciano standing by. But first, ABC's Trevor all leading us off in New York.

Tonight this historic winter storm creating life threatening weather conditions. Coast to Coast 205 million Americans under weather alerts facing an avalanche of issues, heavy snow, high winds, coastal flooding and significantly sub-zero temperatures. It just stings the eyes. You feel like you immediately have icicles on your eyelashes on the Ohio Turnpike this 50 car pile up.

At least one person killed. Feet of snow falling in Western New York, while in New York City, heavy rain and storm surge turning roads into rivers. First responders rescuing stranded drivers. Holy Cow, I can't Even describe.

Like floodwaters, power outages impacting 23 States and more than one and a half million customers. It was very scary out there on my way to work with trees down police dashcam video showing a transformer exploding in liberty, MO, New Hampshire, calling in power.

Cruise from Canada to help restore electricity. Tennessee officials ordering rolling blackouts to ease the load this vicious cold arriving like a freight train this.

Real time in Oklahoma this tap water turning immediately to ice. Amarillo, TX plunging 33 degrees in just an hour. Cheyenne, WY, 43 degrees. The fastest one hour drop in city history. And now NYC is in the storms icy grip. It was 58 this morning in Manhattan, we've fallen.

37 degrees and overnight it could get as low as five. The state's governor declaring a state of emergency. Major highways shut down for 150 miles. Windchills are going to be.That's what we're bracing for, Trevor all joining us now and Trevor as temperatures plunge overnight, a new warning from officials in the northeast.

Yeah, white officials are very concerned about flash freezing or it could be very dangerous conditions on the road. Not to mention we could have 60 mile an hour wind gusts through tomorrow and that could mean even more power outages overnight and into Christmas Eve.

With really incredible Trevor, thank you. Hi everyone. George Stephanopoulos here. Thanks for checking out the ABC News YouTube channel. If you'd like to get more video show highlights and watch live event coverage, click on the right over here to subscribe to our channel. And don't forget to download the ABC News app for Breaking news alerts. Thanks for Visiting.