Typhoon Nuri set to batter Alaska's Aleutian Islands in what could be the most intense storm to hit the North Pacific EVER

Storm is even stronger than Hurricane Sandy, which killed 150 people including more than 70 in the U.S. and inflicted $68bn worth of damage
Nuri is expected to smash into the Aleutian Islands - a far less populated area - in the North Pacific late on Friday or early on Saturday
The weather system will push cold air across the U.S. next week, leaving cities across the Midwest with temperatures 15 degrees below normal
Snow will also hit the northern Rockies and northern Plains
An explosive storm that has surpassed the intensity of Superstorm Sandy is set to batter Alaska's Aleutian Islands over the weekend and bring freezing temperatures and snow across the U.S.

The massive storm, with hurricane-force winds and waves 50 feet high, potentially could be one of the most intense to ever hit the North Pacific, weather service forecaster Brian Hurley warned.

After ravaging the small western Alaska islands, the weather system, named Typhoon Nuri, is expected to push cold air into much of the lower 48 states next week, forecaster Bob Oravec said.

By the weekend, high temperatures in Minneapolis will only reach the upper 20s, and mid-30s are expected in Chicago - more than 15 degrees below normal for this time of year.