A formidable winter storm is forecast to deposit snow and ice across 25 states – spanning from Texas to Massachusetts – from Friday through the weekend, according to AccuWeather. The accumulation of frozen precipitation poses a severe risk to power grids and transit systems, endangering both lives and property.
"Potentially hundreds of thousands of people may go without electricity and heat for days," AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter stated. Roadways in regions unaccustomed to winter weather, from the Mississippi Valley to Oklahoma, may become clogged due to heavy sleet and snow. AccuWeather noted that schools and childcare facilities could face multi-day closures. In areas prone to heavy icing, the collapse of trees and power lines may overwhelm utility crews and complicate clearing operations on streets and highways.
Large portions of Texas, Oklahoma, and populated centers in the Southeast and mid-Atlantic may see roads rendered impassable, the outlet reported. Following the precipitation, temperatures are projected to plummet into the 20s, teens, and single digits, increasing the likelihood of burst pipes and structural damage.
Forecasters expect Dallas to endure freezing conditions for up to 60 hours. "It does not appear this cold wave will be as long-lasting or as intense as the historic and deadly February 2021 cold outbreak," Porter observed. "However, this cold wave will coincide with a major snow and ice storm."
"More than 4,000 flight cancellations are likely across the country this weekend," Porter added. AccuWeather warned that significant ice buildup could force extended airport closures.
An injection of arctic air – potentially the coldest of the season – will define the rain-snow line. AccuWeather indicated that the storm's prolonged nature could result in precipitation lasting beyond 24 hours in some districts. Southern regions may face their most severe winter event in years, while the Northeast could see its largest storm of the season.
Plowable snow is expected to track from the southern Plains through the Midwest to New England. Major hubs like Atlanta, Washington, DC, and New York City lie in the storm's path. AccuWeather predicted accumulations could exceed a foot in colder zones, with the Appalachians seeing up to two feet.
Motorists and flyers should check forecasts to avoid becoming stranded as the system expands, the outlet advised. Thunderstorms may also develop along the Gulf Coast.
Freezing conditions will likely persist across the eastern US after the system departs. "Even after snow and ice subsides across the Southeast, some locations will be slow to rise above freezing," AccuWeather Meteorologist Emma Belscher explained. "This will prolong impacts as snow and ice will not be quick to melt and can easily refreeze overnight."
Temperatures remaining in the single digits and 10s across the Midwest and Northeast into next week could complicate snow removal and raise the risk of hypothermia, AccuWeather concluded.
