A powerful winter storm, which has already blanketed parts of Texas and Oklahoma with heavy snow and ice, is now sweeping eastward across the southern United States, forcing governors to declare states of emergency and shuttering schools for millions of students, The Associated Press reports.
The storm, driven by a southward dip of the polar vortex, is bringing a dangerous mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain, creating hazardous travel conditions and prompting widespread disruptions.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders activated the National Guard to assist stranded motorists as the storm dumped up to 7 inches of snow in some areas before heading further east. Millions of students from Texas to Georgia and as far east as South Carolina will experience snow days or remote learning as schools cancelled in-person classes on Friday.
The National Weather Service predicts significant snowfall for the northern half of Arkansas and much of Tennessee, with accumulations potentially reaching 6 to 9 inches. Further south and east, a dangerous mix of sleet and freezing rain is making travel treacherous across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
The storm’s impact is also being felt heavily on air travel. On Thursday, more than 4,500 flights were delayed and another 2,000 were canceled, with further disruptions anticipated on Friday.
The unusually strong southward push of the polar vortex, a phenomenon some experts link to a warming climate, is bringing the frigid conditions. The cold snap is also coinciding with rare January wildfires in the Los Angeles area.
National Weather Service meteorologist Paul Kirkwood warned that the system will create a “swath of snow” impacting parts of Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Texas Governor Greg Abbott urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel, especially with 75,000 fans expected at AT&T Stadium in Arlington for the Cotton Bowl college football game.
Heavy snow and freezing rain are expected to extend all the way to the Virginia and North Carolina coasts, with areas of Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia potentially receiving up to 8 inches (20 centimeters) of snow by Saturday.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency on Thursday in anticipation of snow and ice. Metro Atlanta and northern Georgia are particularly at risk, with forecasters warning of potentially hazardous roadways and power outages. Public school systems across the region canceled in-person classes for Friday, impacting over a million students.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools in Tennessee, the state’s largest district with over 100,000 students, is also closed on Friday. Two warming centers have been opened in Memphis to provide shelter for those seeking refuge from the cold, as the city prepares for up to 8 inches of snow.
South Carolina is bracing for its first winter weather event in three years. The state’s Department of Transportation is treating major highways with brine and salt. School systems in the affected areas are closing early, canceling classes entirely for Friday, or switching to online learning.
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein declared a state of emergency, as the storm is expected to bring up to 3 inches of snow in many areas, with higher amounts in the mountains. Sleet and freezing rain are also a concern. The storm also forced the cancellation of the public outdoor inauguration ceremony for Governor Stein and other state officials scheduled for Saturday.
Meanwhile, in Richmond, Virginia, residents remain under a boil-water advisory after a storm-related power outage shut down the city’s water reservoir system on Monday. The city is distributing bottled water at 11 locations and providing deliveries to vulnerable residents.
