Clemson University’s main campus has moved all learning online on Monday as a state of emergency is declared in South Carolina due to potentially severe ice and snow.

In an email sent to students, faculty and professors on Thursday, the University announced that there will be no in-person classes or labs due to forecasts indicating potential ice accumulation at all University locations impacted by the weather conditions.

All primary campus services, including “dining services, campus recreation, libraries and Redfern Health Center, may have adjusted hours.”

CATbus and transit updates will be on the Tigers Commute app and the Parking and Transportation Services website.

More than 160 million people in 30 US states will be impacted by winter storm Fern over the weekend, bringing ice and snow to the South, cold temperatures to the Midwest and snow to the Northeast.

Ahead of the development of the storm, Gov. Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency in the state of South Carolina. McMaster’s order activates the South Carolina Emergency Operations Plan and “suspends certain rules and regulations for commercial vehicles,” according to WYFF 4.

The watch has been issued for parts of South Carolina — especially the Upstate and northern mountains — starting Saturday morning and lasting until Monday, according to the Greenville News.

South Carolina and North Carolina are expected to experience heavy sleet followed by significant icing. The sleet will compact into rough ice, often looking like snow but behaving like ice, according to WYFF 4 Chief Meteorologist Chris Justus.

The storm is predicted to arrive on Friday afternoon, impacting areas from Dallas to Little Rock, Arkansas, to Wichita, Kansas, to Oklahoma City, per ABC News. “The worst of the ice could hit cities including Dallas; Little Rock; Memphis, Tennessee; Nashville, Tennessee; the Atlanta area; Charlotte, North Carolina; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Washington, D.C.”.

Some models indicate that there is an expected 1 to 1.5 inches of ice, according to Justus.

Justus also mentioned that the storm may impact transportation, as travel could be difficult with widespread power outages.

Sheriff Mike Crenshaw of the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office said ice accumulation on trees and power lines could lead to power outages and hazardous driving conditions.

“With any power outages that occur, traffic signals at intersections will be out, so prepare to treat those intersections as four-way stops,” Crenshaw said.

Across the country, Americans are stocking up and heading to the grocery store to prepare for the winter storm, just to find shelves clean. Experts and authorities are suggesting that people purchase food items that do not need to be cooked or refrigerated, shares Business Insider.

Local store Duncan’s Home Center owner Joe Freeman commented in an interview with the Post and Courier that his store has been “inundated since Tuesday” and that his customers are seeking “ways to stay warm and safe during the expected storm.”

“Preparations are already underway by state agencies, and this State of Emergency ensures Team South Carolina is ready to respond and support communities as conditions develop,” McMaster said.

Following the storm, models indicate record-breaking cold, with temperatures in the Upstate and below Asheville reaching near-zero by Tuesday morning. On Wednesday and Thursday, any melting is projected to be minor, and roads are expected to refreeze each night.