As Southern California deals with multiple destructive wildfires, a large winter storm is sweeping through the U.S. South, bringing heavy snow and ice to millions of people. The storm is expected to persist through Saturday, with forecasts indicating 6 to 10 inches of snow from eastern Oklahoma through the Mid-South and the southern Appalachians. The snow will transition into sleet and freezing rain in parts of the Southeast and southern Arkansas, creating hazardous travel conditions with icy accumulations of between a tenth and a quarter inch. Power outages and downed branches are additional concerns.
A winter storm warning is in effect for at least 41 million people as the storm progresses along the Gulf Coast. The storm is projected to weaken by Saturday, leaving lighter snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches in parts of the Northeast, the Mid-Atlantic, and the Ohio Valley before moving off the Carolinas. The Atlanta weather service has cautioned about the potential for freezing rain damage along and north of the I-20 corridor through Friday.
This extreme weather follows a significant storm that brought severe winter conditions to a vast region, including northeastern Kansas and north-central Missouri, where snowfall reached approximately 15 inches. Flight operations have been heavily impacted, with over 2,600 U.S. flights canceled and more than 2,400 delayed. Major airports like Nashville, Charlotte, and Atlanta experienced significant disruptions.
Forecast updates for Atlanta indicate lower snowfall totals due to a higher likelihood of a transition to a wintry mix or freezing rain. Far north Georgia is expected to receive the most snow, with forecasts ranging from 2 to 3 inches and localized amounts of up to 4 to 5 inches.
In Nashville, Middle Tennessee saw snow moving in on Friday morning, with the heaviest snowfall expected during the late morning and afternoon hours. Nashville and nearby areas are forecasted to receive 4 to 6 inches of snow, with some areas west of Nashville possibly seeing 6 to 8 inches.
Overall, residents and travelers in the affected regions should remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to stay safe during this challenging weather event.
Winter weather is expected to impact several areas, including Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, and Oklahoma. The National Weather Service has issued warnings for snow and wintry mix in these regions, with significant accumulations likely in some areas. Travel conditions are expected to deteriorate rapidly, with poor visibility and dangerous driving conditions. Stay updated on the latest weather alerts and take precautions if you need to travel in these areas.
Although precipitation has eased up in North Texas, forecasters are warning of potentially hazardous road conditions expected on Saturday. The weather service cautioned that any water lingering on the roads could freeze overnight and into Saturday morning, creating dangerous situations once again for North Texas residents.
A tweet from the National Weather Service out of Fort Worth at 10:18 pm on Friday highlighted the concern: “Freezing drizzle late tonight will add to the already slick roads due to the snow and sleet. If you must travel, slow down and drive with extreme caution! #dfwwx #ctxwx”
The weather service’s warning comes as a winter storm threatens the South with a mix of snow and ice, necessitating vigilance and preparedness from residents in the affected areas.
National weather maps and radar are being closely monitored to track the storm’s progression and provide updated information as necessary.
This story has been updated to correct an earlier inaccuracy and to include new details.
Contributing to this report are Eve Chen and Doyle Rice.
Gabe Hauari, a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY, can be followed on Twitter @GabeHauari or reached via email at Gdhauari@gannett.com.
This article was originally published on USA TODAY with the title: “Winter storm threatens South with snow, ice: Track weather.”
