ATLANTA (AP) — With many Americans still recovering from multiple blasts of snow and unrelenting freezing temperatures in the northern regions, a new storm is set to emerge this weekend, posing risks of ice-coated roads and downed power lines across the Southern U.S. Forecasters are concerned that the ice storm arriving late this week could lead to widespread outages as temperatures remain low, allowing ice to persist on roads and sidewalks.
Cold Arctic air from Canada will collide with rain streaming eastward, resulting in a 'major winter storm' according to meteorologists, with substantial impacts anticipated across the southern states. 'This is extreme, even for this being the peak of winter,' said Bryan Jackson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
An atmospheric river is expected to intensify over the weekend, pulling moisture across Texas and further along the Gulf Coast into Georgia and the Carolinas. This may result in significant ice accumulations, particularly in northern Georgia, and temperate forecasts predict low temperatures in Atlanta could drop to 22 degrees (minus 5.6 Celsius) early Monday.
Travel disruptions are anticipated, particularly given that southern states have less equipment for ice and snow removal, and frigid temperatures could prevent melting. The storm is likely to affect major airports, including those in Dallas, Atlanta, and Memphis.
As the arctic air arrives, temperatures in Texas and other southern states could plunge into the 20s or teens, bringing a wintery mix and setting the stage for substantial precipitation and potential ice in regions across the southern United States. Meteorologists stress that uncertainty remains around intensity and impact, making accurate forecasting critical as the storm approaches.
Cold Arctic air from Canada will collide with rain streaming eastward, resulting in a 'major winter storm' according to meteorologists, with substantial impacts anticipated across the southern states. 'This is extreme, even for this being the peak of winter,' said Bryan Jackson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
An atmospheric river is expected to intensify over the weekend, pulling moisture across Texas and further along the Gulf Coast into Georgia and the Carolinas. This may result in significant ice accumulations, particularly in northern Georgia, and temperate forecasts predict low temperatures in Atlanta could drop to 22 degrees (minus 5.6 Celsius) early Monday.
Travel disruptions are anticipated, particularly given that southern states have less equipment for ice and snow removal, and frigid temperatures could prevent melting. The storm is likely to affect major airports, including those in Dallas, Atlanta, and Memphis.
As the arctic air arrives, temperatures in Texas and other southern states could plunge into the 20s or teens, bringing a wintery mix and setting the stage for substantial precipitation and potential ice in regions across the southern United States. Meteorologists stress that uncertainty remains around intensity and impact, making accurate forecasting critical as the storm approaches.
