Winter storm Cora to spread snow, ice through the south

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  • The next winter storm will spread into the southern plains Wednesday night.
  • A patch of snow and some ice is expected from Texas to Virginia and the Carolinas.
  • Any bomb cyclone that may form this weekend may do so too far off the east coast for significant impacts.

A significant winter storm is expected to blanket parts of the South with snow and ice in the coming days, which could lead to more commuting and travel headaches from Texas to the Carolinas and Virginia.

This storm has been named Cora by The Weather Channel.

(MORE: Winter Storm Names 2023-2024)

Winter Storm Alerts have now been issued

The National Weather Service has issued winter storm watches for this storm’s threat of snow, sleet and freezing rain for parts of northern Texas, southeastern Oklahoma, Arkansas and northern Louisiana, including Dallas-Fort Worth, Little Rock and Shreveport. Residents and travelers in these areas should prepare for impacts from this winter storm to begin arriving Wednesday evening or Thursday.

Additional winter storm warnings are likely to be issued further east along this storm’s future path in the south over the next day or two.

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Winter weather alerts

(From the National Weather Service.)

As is often the case, there is still uncertainty about exactly where the boundaries between rain and ice and snow will ultimately lie. For now, here is our latest forecast. Check back with us on weather.com for updates in the coming days.

Forecast Timing

Wednesday evening to Thursday

  • Snow and ice will spread to the southern plains Wednesday night.
  • Parts of northern Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and southern Kansas are expected to see snow.
  • A band of sleet and freezing rain may extend from central Texas to northern Louisiana and southern Arkansas.
  • Driving may be hazardous Thursday in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Little Rock and the Texas Hill Country.
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(The green shading shows where rain is expected. Areas shaded blue are expected to see snow. Purple shaded areas may see snow and ice. Areas shaded pink are expected to see sleet or freezing rain (ice). )

Friday

  • Any wintry precipitation in Oklahoma and Texas should end by noon.
  • Snow will spread from the Mid-South region into Kentucky, Tennessee, far northern parts of Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia into North Carolina and possibly upstate South Carolina.
  • Areas just south of this main band of snow could see a wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain, generally near and north of Interstate 20 from northern Louisiana to Georgia.
  • This can lead to treacherous travel through these areas, with some roads possibly becoming impassable, especially in hilly or mountainous terrain.
  • Metro areas that could see wintry travel conditions for at least part of Friday include Atlanta, Birmingham, Charlotte, Huntsville, Little Rock, Memphis and Nashville.
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(The green shading shows where rain is expected. Areas shaded blue are expected to see snow. Purple shaded areas may see snow and ice. Areas shaded pink are expected to see sleet or freezing rain (ice).

Saturday

  • Areas of snow and wind may linger near the eastern seaboard, as well as in the Appalachians.
  • Some light sleet or freezing rain may also linger, especially early, in parts of the Carolinas.
  • Travel can be challenging from northern Georgia to parts of South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and perhaps the Delmarva Peninsula.
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(The green shading shows where rain is expected. Areas shaded blue are expected to see snow. Purple shaded areas may see snow and ice. Areas shaded pink are expected to see sleet or freezing rain (ice).

Snow, ice potential

  • From northern Texas and southeastern Oklahoma to Arkansas, at least moderate accumulations are possible. In some areas, that means 5 or more inches could pile up.
  • Farther east, Tennessee as well as northern parts of Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, upstate South Carolina and North Carolina could see light to moderate accumulating snow of at least a few inches, depending on the track of the storm.
  • Accumulating sleet or freezing rain is possible along the southern edge of the snowfall area shown on the map below. This can be enough to make the roads dangerous and can lead to tree damage and power outages in some areas.
  • Lighter snowfall is generally expected further north in the Ohio Valley.
  • Check back with us at weather.com for updates to this forecast.

(MORE: Why the snowfall forecast sometimes changes)

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Atlantic bomb cyclone?

  • Over the weekend, the low pressure system should move into the western Atlantic.
  • This is where the low can quickly intensify into a bomb cyclone, basically an intense, windy area of ​​low pressure.
  • precise where and when it is critical.
  • So far, a majority of computer model forecasts suggest that intensification may occur too far off the East Coast for major impacts this weekend, but it could be a close call.
  • It is too early to rule out this intensification closer to the East Coast with more significant impacts this weekend. Again, check back with us at weather.com for updates.

Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has covered national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him Blue sky, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.