Winter storm pulls away after dumping heavy snow; frigid air won't budge | Live updates

One year after a winter storm forced postponements across U.S. sports, another major weather system is prompting a reshuffling of games this week and threatened to wreak havoc on the weekend schedule.

A storm that meteorologists say could rival the damage of a major hurricane is expected to bring snow, ice and frigid temperatures from New Mexico to New England starting Friday.

Major League Baseball's Texas Rangers canceled their annual Fan Fest event scheduled for Saturday due to the weather forecast for frozen precipitation in North Texas and "in the interest of safety for players, fans, and employees."

The Sun Belt Conference preemptively shook up its women's basketball schedule, moving around the start times on several games from Thursday through Saturday. The American Athletic Conference also adjusted its weekend men's and women's basketball schedules, moving some games up to Friday.

Tennessee's swim meet at Georgia and the USC Upstate women's basketball game at Longwood were moved up to Friday from Saturday due to the forecast.

Here is an early call for snow probabilities:

You're not alone if you're looking for salt for the upcoming storm and can't find any. Stores across the region are out, or on their last few bags.

West Milford Hardware and Supply tried to order two pallets of salt normally used for water softeners.

Two pallets were ordered, but only one was delivered.

Several municipalities are also finding it difficult to get their hands on enough salt for the upcoming storm, like Piscataway.

"We have about 500 roadway miles in our community, but we're down to under 500 tons which is basically only going to take care of intersections," said Piscataway Mayor Brian Wahler.

He says because supplies are so low, municipalities are on the bottom of the list for deliveries.

Toni Yates reports on the salt shortage in New Jersey.

New York City and the Tri-State area find themselves in the path of a sprawling and powerful winter storm that is threatening to leave a trail of snow, ice and inescapable travel mayhem across dozens of states, from the Southwest through the Southeast, the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

The storm, with a potential historic sweep unlike any seen in recent years, will roar in from the South and reach the doorstep of the Tri-State area as early as Sunday morning.

New York will be on the northern side of a large coastal low that could deliver significant snow to the Mid-Atlantic states.

Our area could experience a moderate to major snowstorm as well, but it's still too early to know for sure.

There is a 40 percent probability that the Tri-State area could experience 6 to 12 inches of snow, and a 30 percent probability that we could see a foot or more of snow.

Adding to the dangers will be severe cold air that will grip the area.

Inevitably with any storm, there are uncertainties that will shape final snow totals, including the storm track and the possibility of mixing with sleet or arrival of dry air that could take some of the bite out of the storm.

The current thinking is for snow to begin falling Sunday morning and continue into early Monday, setting up colossal complications for travel and commutes as the work week looms.

Locked-in Arctic air will limit any potential melting in the days after the storm pulls out to sea.

Governmental agencies across the Tri-state area are taking the threat seriously and are preparing for a significant snow storm just in case.

Well before the storm arrives, the Tri-State region will experience a brief thaw, with temperatures spiking into the 40s on Thursday before Arctic air returns ahead of the storm.

The high on Saturday will be 19 with a low of just 12, and wind chills will be below zero.

While Saturday will be brutally cold, it will be dry, making it a good day to take care of any last-minute preparations ahead of the storm.