In brief
As the Southeast and parts of Central U.S. prepare for a massive winter storm forecasted to bring ice, snow, and severe weather conditions, millions are bracing for potential power outages and transportation disruptions. The National Weather Service has issued winter weather advisories as ice accumulations could reach dangerous levels, particularly in Texas, Louisiana, and parts of the Southeast, while northern states may experience heavy snowfall.
ATLANTA (AP) — Millions across the southeastern U.S. are preparing for a potentially catastrophic ice storm that is set to strike from New Mexico to the Carolinas. The National Weather Service estimates about 100 million people are under various winter weather watches, warnings, or advisories as they brace for a storm expected to begin Friday and persist through the weekend.Forecasters predict the storm will bring heavy snow and multiple forms of wintry precipitation, including freezing rain and sleet. An atmospheric river event could contribute to significant precipitation, impacting Texas and states along the Gulf Coast, through Georgia and into the Carolinas.Preparedness looks different from state to state. For instance, Jackson, Mississippi, faces an ice and sleet mix this weekend but has zero snowplows. Instead, the city utilizes skid steers and small excavators while deploying trucks filled with salt and sand to prep the roads beforehand.The storm’s potentially crippling impact can be illustrated in numbers: areas like Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Tennessee could see more than half an inch of ice, which has the potential to bring down power lines and cause extensive outages.Critical travel hubs like Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, Memphis, and Charlotte are also poised to see significant delays and disruptions, with major airports on alert as the storm treks eastward.Preparedness efforts, including the allocation of 851 salt trucks in Tennessee and a plan to deploy over 1,000 pieces of winter weather equipment in Texas, are underway to mitigate storm impacts.In what appears to be a multi-state concern, parts of at least 19 states are currently under winter storm watches, impacting millions in their path, and further warnings may be issued as the storm unfolds.
