Potentially catastrophic winter storm now threatens over 35 states, prompts Winter Storm Watches for millions
Behind the storm itself, Arctic temperatures could freeze snow and ice, potentially creating long-duration power outages and paralyzing travel for days. Meanwhile, there's growing confidence that this system could develop into the most significant snowstorm for parts of the Mid-Atlantic and New York tri-state area in years.
Potentially historic winter storm set to slam 200M across 30 states from Southwest to Mid-Atlantic
Winter Storm Watches have expanded across the country ahead of this weekend’s massive and potentially historic winter storm. The scope of this system will be immense, with snow and ice stretching from the Southwest through Texas and Oklahoma, across the South and Tennessee Valley, before eventually reaching the Mid-Atlantic coast. More than 200 million people are in the path of this sprawling system, which is expected to move out of the Southwest by Friday. A key remaining question is exactly how far north this storm will track. A shift in track will determine which states will see heavy snow versus crippling ice.
FOX Weather is covering this major winter storm 24/7 that will span dangerous impacts of snow and ice across 30 states. Live coverage on Thursday continues here.
More than 200 million people are in the path of a potentially historic winter storm that's expected to extend over 2,000 miles and deliver crippling snow and ice across more than 35 states, all told beginning Friday.
A wide swath of winter weather will slam the country through the weekend, moving from the Southwest through Texas and Oklahoma, across the South and Tennessee Valley, before eventually reaching the Mid-Atlantic coast.
Behind the storm itself, Arctic temperatures could freeze snow and ice, potentially creating long-duration power outages and paralyzing travel for days.
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A key remaining question is exactly how far north this storm will track — any kind of shift will determine which states will see potentially record amounts of snowfall versus hazardous ice.
However, those living along the Interstate 40 and 20 corridors should prepare for days of some kind of significant winter weather beginning Friday and lasting through the weekend.
Airports across those corridors will also likely see days of significant cancellations and delays.
The states of South Carolina and North Carolina have declared states of emergency in preparation for the winter storm.
The state of emergency activates the South Carolina Emergency Operations Plan, which allows state agencies to quickly mobilize resources, allow the state National Guard to activate personnel and prepare equipment, and allows state and local emergency management officials to start coordinating response efforts.
In North Carolina, Governor Josh Stein said the state's emergency response team is already working to make sure resources are in place to keep residents safe.
The state of Maryland has also declared a state of preparedness in anticipation of the storm. The declaration, made by Governor Wes Moore, "enhances the state's ability to respond quickly and effectively to potential hazards before escalating response, providing an easier path for information sharing and coordination."
The state of Texas has activated its state emergency response resources in anticipation of the winter storm. Governor Greg Abbott said this would ensure municipalities have critical resources before any potential winter weather impacts.
Meanwhile, confidence is growing that the highest snow accumulations will fall across parts of central Virginia through Washington, D.C., extending into the northeastern Interstate 95 corridor, including New York City and potentially Boston.
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Dangerous ice storm targets Southern Tier
A paralyzing ice storm is expected to be the main threat within the southern component of this colossal winter system.
WHAT ARE ICE STORMS AND WHY ARE THEY DANGEROUS?
Over 15 states stretching across a massive corridor from New Mexico through the South to the Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic coasts could see ice accretion capable of causing numerous power outages from Friday through Monday.
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The bull's-eye for the most significant ice accretion, capable of causing widespread power outages, is currently forecast from East Texas through southern Arkansas.
Those in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area should also prepare for hazardous ice beginning Friday.
Another significant ice threat is forecast to develop across the eastern side of the Appalachians, currently including Atlanta, Augusta, Georgia and Charlotte, North Carolina.
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Ahead of the storm, Winter Storm Watches have been expanded across portions of New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and the Tennessee Valley from Friday night through Saturday.
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Massive winter system to blast Southern Plains Friday
Cold rain will break out from Dallas to Little Rock, Arkansas, by Friday afternoon, before transitioning over to a dangerous wintry mix by Friday evening.
However, there is still some uncertainty from computer forecast models about exactly where the snow-ice-rain lines will set up, but there is strong agreement that the worst of the snow will stay to the north of the I-20 corridor.
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As the storm tracks into the Southeast, a deep freeze will remain over the Southern Plains preventing snow and ice from melting, potentially hindering any power restoration efforts.
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A wide swath of 5 to 8 inches of snow is expected across central Oklahoma into northern Arkansas through Sunday.
This system has the potential to break into the top five largest snow events in Oklahoma City history.
Winter storm reaches the Southeast Saturday
The massive winter storm will reach the Southeast by Saturday, when a very strong area of high pressure will be positioned to the north across the Northern Plains and Midwest. This high, rotating clockwise, will funnel arctic air southward, locking it against the Appalachians.
Snow forecasts have shifted further north across a corridor north of I-40 along Tennessee's Cumberland Plateau and eventually into the southern Appalachians in western North Carolina.
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The highest snowfall totals from Friday through Monday are expected from Nashville through western North Carolina, including Winston-Salem, where over a foot of snow is likely as colder air will favor a predominantly snow-driven event.
Crippling ice is expected across Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, forecast to arrive into Saturday afternoon.
Areas from Atlanta through Columbia and Raleigh could see a half inch of dangerous ice accretion.
Confidence growing for more than a foot of snow across Mid-Atlantic and Northeast
Meanwhile, there's growing confidence among computer forecast models that this system could develop into the most significant snowstorm for parts of the Mid-Atlantic and New York tri-state area in years.
Currently, the highest snow accumulations are forecast to fall across parts of central Virginia through Washington, D.C. beginning Saturday evening.
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The biggest question that remains is whether the massive winter storm is able to move off the East Coast and intensify.
If this scenario plays out, Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York City could see more than a foot of snow by Monday morning.
The further north the storm is able to track, the greater the likelihood of significant snow further north along the I-95 corridor in New England.
Check back for updates on this developing story.