Forecasters are warning of a widespread and potentially historic winter storm that will affect the southern United States this weekend, with the scope extending from the Southwest through Texas and Oklahoma, across the South and Tennessee Valley, before reaching the Mid-Atlantic coast.
Winter Storm Watches have been issued across Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana, including major cities such as Dallas, Oklahoma City, and Little Rock. The warnings will remain in place from Friday through Saturday when the peak of the storm is expected to hit the Southern Plains.
Ryan Maue, a former chief scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, described the approaching system as “a widespread potentially catastrophic event from Texas to the Carolinas.” Forecasters on Tuesday warned that ice could weigh down trees and power lines, triggering widespread outages.
The most significant threat is expected to be ice rather than snow for much of the affected area. As much as a half inch of ice is forecast for parts of North and South Carolina, Georgia, Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, which would cause dangerous travel conditions, fallen trees, and extensive power outages.
Areas from Central Texas into Tennessee through the Carolinas face the highest risk of crippling ice accumulations. Power outages are possible across a massive area stretching from Texas to the Carolinas.
While the storm track remains uncertain, computer forecast models show the heaviest snow falling north of Interstate 20. Of particular concern is I-35 from Oklahoma City to Dallas, where more than a foot of snow could accumulate starting as early as Friday morning and continuing through Sunday.
Currently, forecasters project the greatest snow accumulations in cities including Oklahoma City, Little Rock, Nashville, Charlotte, and Washington, D.C. Several locations could receive between one and two feet of snow along a swath approximately 1,000 miles long.
The storm will develop as an unusually strong area of high pressure moves into the United States from Canada, supplying arctic air to much of the country. At the same time, a moisture-filled atmospheric river from the Pacific will provide the developing storm with substantial moisture.
The greatest potential for significant snow in the Mid-Atlantic is across Virginia and Maryland. Portions of southern New Jersey will also see elevated snow potential. Across the Mid-Atlantic, arctic air will favor mainly snow, sparing the region from the dangerous ice forecast to affect areas farther south.
The system represents a classic setup for a major winter storm, with forecasters noting it will be the biggest winter event the United States has seen this year and possibly in several years.
Following the storm’s passage, arctic air will remain locked in place, preventing snow and ice from melting quickly. This will prolong winter weather impacts in affected areas. Temperatures are expected to remain below freezing in many locations through early next week, potentially extending power outages and travel disruptions.
New England will experience the coldest temperatures of the season, though whether the region will receive significant snow remains uncertain. Daytime highs on Saturday and Sunday will range from single digits to teens in most of southern New England. Morning lows will largely be below zero north and west of Boston. In central and northern New England, temperatures will drop as low as negative 10 to negative 25 degrees.
The National Weather Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are utilizing social media platforms to share real-time updates on warnings and preparedness tips. Officials are urging residents in affected states to monitor radar developments closely and prepare for extended power outages.
The storm is expected to begin Friday in the Southern Plains and progress into the Southeast through the weekend, with the Mid-Atlantic potentially affected late Sunday into Monday.
