A powerful winter storm is expected to bring snow, ice, and rain to the southern United States, impacting millions of people across a 1,400-mile stretch from North Texas to the North Carolina coast. The eastern two-thirds of the country will experience its coldest temperatures this season, with unusually cold air allowing for hazardous conditions.
Around 80,000 homes and businesses in Missouri to Virginia were still without power on Wednesday morning due to last winter’s storm. Some have been without electricity since Sunday, braving extremely cold temperatures that are even colder than the normal coldest month.
The storm will begin to affect western Texas on Wednesday night with light snow and freezing drizzle. Thursday will be the most impactful day for winter weather in the southern Plains as the storm intensifies. Snow and sleet could start in northern Texas, including the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, and continue through Thursday night.
Oklahoma and Arkansas will also experience a mix of snow and ice on Thursday morning, creating hazardous conditions despite lower-than-forecasted snow totals. Any amount of ice is treacherous, with just a thin layer turning paved surfaces into skating rinks.
The Winter Storm Severity Index predicts moderate to major impacts in parts of Texas and Oklahoma, with considerable disruptions to daily life and dangerous travel conditions likely. Frigid temperatures in Texas will increase power demands but grid conditions are expected to be normal, according to ERCOT.
Rain and thunderstorms will hit central and south Texas on Thursday, including Austin and Houston, bringing the risk of flooding, especially in coastal areas where heavy storms could push ashore. The storm’s track is still uncertain, with small shifts possible that could change snow and ice outcomes.
Snowfall totals are expected to be highest in far northeast Texas and southeast Oklahoma through Tennessee and the southern Appalachians. Northern Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia can expect 3 inches or more of snow from Thursday night to Friday night. Atlanta may receive a moderate amount of snow, breaking its seven-year drought.
The storm’s trajectory is now less likely to bring significant snow to the mid-Atlantic and Northeast by the weekend, but another Canadian storm could work in tandem with this one, potentially bringing precipitation to the East by Saturday.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/07/weather/winter-storm-cold-south-texas-climate/index.html