Forecaster Warns Southern USA Of Catastrophic Winter Storm

Just as much of the country is digging out from brutal snow and deep freeze conditions, another potentially devastating storm is forming—and this time, it’s the South that’s in the bullseye.

Forecasters are sounding the alarm for what could be a widespread, paralyzing ice storm from Texas all the way to the Carolinas this weekend, with officials warning of serious power outages, wrecked roads, and dangerous travel conditions across multiple states.

“This is a widespread potentially catastrophic event,” said Ryan Maue, former chief scientist at NOAA. “I don’t know how people are going to deal with it.”

Here’s what we know.

The storm, expected to arrive late this week, will drag freezing rain, sleet, and heavy snow across a massive stretch of the U.S. A frigid arctic air mass diving down from Canada is forecast to collide with a stream of Gulf moisture—setting the stage for a crippling layer of ice to coat roads, trees, and power lines across the Deep South.

“If you get a half of an inch of ice — or heaven forbid an inch of ice — that could be catastrophic,” said Keith Avery, CEO of Newberry Electric Cooperative in South Carolina.

The National Weather Service is warning of “great swaths” of dangerous winter precipitation, shifting from the central U.S. Friday and into the East Coast by Sunday. Freezing temperatures are expected to linger into next week, meaning any ice that forms could stick around—especially in cities like Atlanta, where temps are forecast to dip into the low 20s Monday morning.

Travel is a growing concern. Southern states typically lack the road-clearing equipment common in the North, and even a thin layer of ice can bring interstates and airports to a standstill. Major hub airports in Dallas, Atlanta, Memphis, and Charlotte are all in the storm’s path—setting up the potential for widespread flight disruptions.

Texas could be the first to feel the punch on Friday, with rain sweeping in as arctic air takes hold. Forecasters say North and Central Texas could see a treacherous wintry mix by Saturday. Low temperatures are expected to fall into the 20s and even teens across parts of the state.

At a hardware store in Little Rock, Arkansas, shoppers have already begun scrambling for supplies. Sleds, shovels, and ice-melt are flying off the shelves.

“People are gearing up,” said James Carter, director of operations at Fuller and Son Hardware. “They know what’s coming.”

And so far, this isn’t just another winter weekend. With high uncertainty still in play, forecasters are warning that this storm has all the ingredients for a worst-case scenario—widespread blackouts, grid failures, and dangerous road conditions across a part of the country that isn’t used to this level of winter fury.

Brace yourselves. The South’s big freeze may just be getting started.

APnews