Headline: Severe Winter Storm Bears Down on Eastern Two-Thirds of US; Snow and Ice Expected from Texas to Carolina Coast
A powerful winter storm is set to bring rain, ice, and snow to nearly two-thirds of the eastern United States, with some regions still recovering from a similar storm earlier this week. This new storm will tap into cold air pushing south, blanketing a 2,200-mile stretch of the US, from Texas to the Carolina coast.
Light snow and ice are already falling in West Texas, but the storm is expected to intensify, delivering significant impacts across the Southern Plains by Thursday. While South Texas will see rain, North Texas, including Dallas, and parts of Arkansas and even northern Louisiana could experience a wintry mix of snow, sleet, and rain from Thursday morning. Oklahoma is forecast to receive primarily heavy snow, with accumulations up to 20 inches.
"The roads, especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slippery and hazardous," warns the National Weather Service in Dallas. "Travel could be very difficult or impossible. Dangerous conditions may affect daily travel Thursday morning and evening."
By Friday, the storm’s impacts will shift from the Southern Plains into the Southeast. A band of rain, snow, and ice will affect parts of Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, including major cities like Atlanta, Nashville, Memphis, and Birmingham. Notably, Atlanta has not seen measurable snow in nearly seven years and is forecast to receive 2 to 7 inches by Saturday morning.
On Friday night, the storm’s impacts will reach the East Coast, bringing primarily snow to Virginia but a wintry mix to parts of the Carolinas. Charlotte, which hasn’t seen measurable snow in nearly two years, could break its snow drought with an expected 2 to 7 inches by Saturday morning.
This storm will enhance an independent system moving southeast from Canada, causing heavy snow in parts of the Ohio Valley and the Mid-Atlantic region, and even light snow in major Northeast cities. While impacts in these regions aren’t expected to be as severe as in the Southeast, areas of the Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic, and interior Northeast may receive 2.5 to 7.6 inches. Most snow should end by Saturday, but strong wind gusts are expected to persist throughout the weekend.
