The inclement weather caused hazardous travel conditions, leading to reports of accidents involving jackknifed tractor trailers and stranded cars in both northern Texas and southern Oklahoma. Interstate 35 in southern Oklahoma was completely shut down near Davis due to a crash, resulting in all southbound lanes turning into a gridlocked parking lot. The Governor of Arkansas, Sarah Sanders, activated the National Guard to aid stranded drivers. In Alabama, parts of the state were deemed treacherous and impassable by Friday morning, according to state officials. Nearby in Mississippi, the state’s highway patrol reported several crashes and vehicles sliding off roads.
The Winter Storm Severity Index predicts at least moderate impacts from the storm in parts of the South on Friday, with some areas facing major disruptions to daily life and dangerous travel conditions. Atlanta experienced icy sleet early Friday before transitioning to snow, with reports of 1 to 3 inches of snow and sleet in the metropolitan area by mid-morning. The city was expected to grapple with mixed precipitation throughout the day, potentially leading to power outages and perilous travel conditions.
Even a small amount of ice, such as a tenth of an inch, can turn roads into hazardous surfaces, causing accidents and out-of-control vehicles. Georgia officials, having learned from the 2014 “Snowpocalypse” disaster, took proactive measures ahead of the storm. Governor Brian Kemp acknowledged the challenges posed by Mother Nature but assured that preparations were in place.
The state Department of Transportation treated around 20,000 miles of roadway with brine before the snowfall, and over 300 plows were deployed to clear highways. Flight disruptions affected Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, with over 400 flights canceled by midday. The storm moved on to impact parts of the Carolinas and the mid-Atlantic region through Friday night.
Charlotte, North Carolina, anticipated breaking its two-year snow drought with expected totals of 1 to 3 inches in much of the state and over half a foot in the western mountains. Recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina were still ongoing, with preparations made to mitigate the storm’s impacts. National Guard troops were deployed in anticipation of the weather in those regions.
Officials in North Carolina have confirmed their readiness to respond as snowfall begins to hit multiple states across the U.S. Snowfall has been reported in regions of Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana as a storm originating from Canada collides with a southern storm, resulting in a northward pull of moisture. Predictions indicate widespread snowfall ranging from 1 to 3 inches in Kentucky and various parts of the Midwest throughout Friday evening. Similarly, the Northeast is expected to experience one to 3 inches of snow from Friday night into Saturday morning.
This weather phenomenon has been closely monitored by CNN’s meteorologists, including Brandon Miller, Andy Rose, Artemis Moshtaghian, and Alexandra Skores. For further updates and news coverage, access CNN.com and sign up for CNN newsletters to stay informed.
