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A major winter storm is poised to sweep across the southern and eastern parts of the U.S. this weekend, bringing heavy snow, sleet, freezing rain, and dangerously cold temperatures, per Yahoo News.
Forecasters say the powerful system could impact more than 180 million people, stretching from Texas to Massachusetts, and may rank among the most significant winter weather events of the season. Large metro areas in the storm’s path include Dallas, Austin, Oklahoma City, Nashville, Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston.
Meteorologists warn that the combination of snow and ice could trigger widespread power outages, major travel disruptions, and school closures. AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter cautioned that “potentially hundreds of thousands of people may go without electricity and heat for days,” as ice weighs down power lines and trees.
The National Weather Service has issued winter storm watches for at least 70 million people, urging residents to begin preparations immediately for what it described as an “impactful and prolonged” storm.
Heavy snow is expected from the Southern Rockies and Central Plains into the Mid-Atlantic, with 6 to 12 inches forecast in parts of the Central Plains and over two feet possible in portions of the Appalachians.
South of the snow zone, freezing rain and sleet are expected to form a broad ice belt from Texas through the Carolinas, creating treacherous travel conditions and increasing the risk of prolonged power outages.
Wintry weather is expected to begin Friday (January 23) across the Plains, including parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, and northern Texas, before spreading east. By Saturday (January 24), snow and ice may push farther south into Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, while the storm advances toward the Ohio Valley and Carolinas. Wintry precipitation is expected to taper off in the South by Sunday (January 25) but continue across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, with snow and gusty winds possibly lingering into Monday (January 26).
Travel disruptions are expected to be widespread, with more than 4,000 flight cancellations anticipated nationwide over the weekend. Officials warn that conditions could worsen quickly and advise travelers to monitor forecasts closely and avoid unnecessary travel where possible.
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