Major Winter Storm Threatens Southern US

Situation: A major winter storm, named Cora, is forecast to impact a large swath of the southern United States between Wednesday, January 8, 2025 and Saturday, January 11, 2025. The storm will bring a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain, creating hazardous travel conditions and potential disruptions to daily life.

Geographic Scope:

• Primarily Impacted: A 1,400-mile stretch from North Texas to the North Carolina coast, including Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia.
• Potentially Affected: Southern Kansas and Missouri, Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast (lighter snow accumulations expected).

Timeline:

• Wednesday Night: Spotty wintry weather begins in western Texas.
• Thursday: The storm strengthens, bringing significant snow and ice to Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and surrounding areas.
• Friday: The storm tracks eastward, bringing snow and icy mix to Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and the Carolinas.
• Saturday: Lingering snow possible along the Eastern Seaboard and in the Appalachians. The storm moves offshore and potentially strengthens into a bomb cyclone in the Atlantic, posing no threat to the East Coast.

Impacts:

• Snowfall:Highest accumulations expected from northeast Texas and southeast Oklahoma through Tennessee and the southern Appalachians (potentially exceeding 6 inches).
• 3+ inches possible in northern portions of Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia.
• Lighter accumulations (dusting to a few inches) possible in surrounding regions.
• Ice:Sleet and freezing rain expected in central and northern Texas, southern Arkansas, and potentially other areas as warmer air mixes in.
• "Any amount of ice is dangerous; just a thin layer — even a tenth of an inch — can turn paved surfaces into skating rinks." (CNN)
• Travel Disruptions:"Treacherous travel conditions and the potential for road closures, flight delays and cancellations, and school and business disruptions." (The Washington Post)
• Major interstates, including I-20, I-30, I-35, and I-40, likely to be impacted.
• Power Outages:"Frigid temperatures will increase power demands in Texas but grid conditions are expected to be normal", according to ERCOT. (CNN) However, the risk of outages remains, especially in areas with significant ice accumulation.
• Flooding: Possible in coastal Texas due to heavy thunderstorms.

Noteworthy Points:

• This storm is expected to be the biggest snow event in several years for many southern states.
• Atlanta, which hasn’t had significant snowfall in nearly seven years, has a moderate chance of receiving measurable snow.
• The storm's track is still subject to change, which could alter snow and ice accumulations.
• A separate storm system may interact with Cora, potentially bringing additional light snow to the Midwest and Northeast.
• Following the storm, a prolonged period of frigid temperatures is expected across much of the US.