Major Winter Storm: Potentially historic snow, ice to slam 175M+ from South to Mid-Atlantic
Winter Storm Watches have expanded across the country ahead of this weekend’s massive and potentially historic winter storm. The scope of this system will be immense, with snow and ice stretching from the Southwest through Texas and Oklahoma, across the South and Tennessee Valley, before eventually reaching the Mid-Atlantic coast. More than 175 million people are in the path of this sprawling system, which is expected to move out of the Southwest by Friday. A key remaining question is exactly how far north this storm will track. A shift in track will determine which states will see heavy snow versus crippling ice.
More than 175 million people are in the path of a potentially historic winter storm that’s expected to extend over 2,000 miles and deliver crippling snow and ice across more than 35 states, all told beginning Friday.
HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER
A wide swath of winter weather will slam the country through the weekend, moving from the Southwest through Texas and Oklahoma, across the South and Tennessee Valley, before eventually reaching the Mid-Atlantic coast.
Behind the storm itself, Arctic temperatures could freeze snow and ice, potentially creating long-duration power outages and paralyzing travel for days.
(FOX Weather)
A key remaining question is exactly how far north this storm will track — any kind of shift will determine which states will see potentially record amounts of snowfall versus hazardous ice.
WHAT IS THE JET STREAM?
However, those living along the Interstate 40 and 20 corridors should prepare for days of some kind of significant winter weather beginning Friday and lasting through the weekend.
Airports across those corridors will also likely see days of significant cancellations and delays.
Meanwhile, confidence is growing that the highest snow accumulations will fall across parts of central Virginia through Washington, D.C., extending into the northeastern Interstate 95 corridor, including New York City and potentially Boston.
(FOX Weather)
Dangerous ice storm targets Southern Tier
A paralyzing ice storm is expected to be the main threat within the southern component of this colossal winter system.
WHAT ARE ICE STORMS AND WHY ARE THEY DANGEROUS?
Over 15 states stretching across a massive corridor from New Mexico through the South to the Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic coasts could see ice accretion capable of causing numerous power outages from Friday through Monday.
(FOX Weather)
The bull’s-eye for the most significant ice accretion, capable of causing widespread power outages, is currently forecast from East Texas through southern Arkansas.
POTENTIAL HISTORIC WINTER STORM TRACKER: LIVE RADAR, FORECASTS FOR SNOW, ICE WITH ACTIVE WINTER WEATHER ALERTS
Those in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area should also prepare for hazardous ice beginning Friday.
Another significant ice threat is forecast to develop across the eastern side of the Appalachians, currently including Atlanta, Augusta, Georgia and Charlotte, North Carolina.
(FOX Weather)
Texas declares states of emergency as Winter Weather Alerts issued across the South
Ahead of the storm, Winter Storm Watches have been expanded across portions of New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and the Tennessee Valley from Friday night through Saturday.
WHAT ARE COLD WEATHER ALERTS?
The state of Texas has activated its state emergency response resources in anticipation of the winter storm. Governor Greg Abbott said this would ensure municipalities have critical resources before any potential winter weather impacts.
(FOX Weather)
Massive winter system to blast Southern Plains Friday
Cold rain will break out from Dallas to Little Rock, Arkansas by Friday afternoon, before transitioning over to a dangerous wintry mix by Friday evening.
SEE LATEST: SOUTHERN CITY COULD SEE A TOP FIVE WORST SNOWSTORM IN RECORDED HISTORY FROM BREWING MAJOR WINTER STORM
However, there is still some uncertainty from computer forecast models about exactly where the snow-ice-rain lines will set up, but there is strong agreement that the worst of the snow will stay to the north of the I-20 corridor.
(FOX Weather)
As the storm tracks into the Southeast, a deep freeze will remain over the Southern Plains preventing snow and ice from melting, potentially hindering any power restoration efforts.
POLAR VORTEX LOCKS IN OVER MOST OF US, DAYS OF ARCTIC TEMPERATURES AHEAD FOR MILLIONS THROUGH JANUARY
(FOX Weather)
A wide swath of 5-8 inches of snow is expected across central Oklahoma into northern Arkansas through Sunday.
This system has the potential to break into the top five largest snow events in Oklahoma City history.
Winter storm reaches the Southeast Saturday
The massive winter storm will reach the Southeast by Saturday, when a very strong area of high pressure will be positioned to the north across the Northern Plains and Midwest. This high, rotating clockwise, will funnel arctic air southward, locking it against the Appalachians.
SEE LATEST: CRIPPLING WINTER STORM TO DELIVER DANGEROUS ICE ACROSS MASSIVE SWATH OF SOUTHEAST, THREATENING POWER GRIDS
Snow forecasts have shifted further north across a corridor north of I-40 along Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau and eventually into the southern Appalachians in western North Carolina.
(FOX Weather)
The highest snowfall totals from Friday through Monday are expected from Nashville through western North Carolina, including Winston-Salem, where over a foot of snow is likely as colder air will favor a predominantly snow-driven event.
Crippling ice is expected across Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, forecast to arrive into Saturday afternoon.
Areas from Atlanta through Columbia and Raleigh could see a half inch of dangerous ice accretion.
PARTS OF LOWER 48 COLDER THAN ALASKA THIS WEEK AS POLAR VORTEX SET TO GRIP NATION WITH WEEKS OF ARCTIC AIR
Confidence growing for more than a foot of snow across Mid-Atlantic and Northeast
Meanwhile, there’s growing confidence among computer forecast models that this system could develop into the most significant snowstorm for parts of the Mid-Atlantic and New York tri-state area in years.
Currently, the highest snow accumulations are forecast to fall across parts of central Virginia through Washington, D.C. beginning Saturday evening.
(FOX Weather)
The biggest question that remains whether the massive winter storm is able to move off the East Coast and intensify.
If this scenario plays out, Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York City could see more than a foot of snow by Monday morning.
The further north the storm is able to track, the greater the likelihood of significant snow further north along the I-95 corridor in New England.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
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