Another winter storm is expected to blanket parts of the South with snow and ice later this week that could lead to more commuting and travel headaches from Texas to the Carolinas and Virginia.
The most recent winter storm, named “Blair” by The Weather Channel, will be over by Tuesday.
But with cold air solidly in place, the next system in line is expected to produce another wintry mess.
As often the case, there remains uncertainty in exactly where the lines between rain and ice and snow will eventually setup. For now, here’s our latest forecast. Check back with us at weather.com for updates in the coming days.
Forecast Timing
Wednesday Night Into Thursday
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Snow and ice will spread into the Southern Plains Wednesday night.
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Parts of north and west Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and southern Kansas are forecast to see snow.
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A band of sleet and freezing rain may stretch from central Texas into northern Louisiana and southern Arkansas.
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Driving could be hazardous by Thursday in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Dallas-Ft. Worth and the Texas Hill Country.
Friday
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Snow will continue from the Mid-South region into Kentucky, Tennessee and the Appalachians.
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A stripe of sleet and freezing rain is expected from northern Louisiana and southern Arkansas to the Tennessee Valley and southern Piedmont of the Appalachians.
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Any wintry precipitation in Oklahoma and Texas should end by midday.
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This could lead to dangerous travel throughout the these areas, with some roads possibly becoming impassable, especially in hilly or mountainous terrain.
Saturday
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Areas of snow may linger near the Eastern Seaboard, as well as in the Appalachians.
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Some light sleet or freezing rain may also linger, especially early, in parts of the Carolinas and southeast Virginia.
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Travel could be challenging from northern Georgia to parts of South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and perhaps the Delmarva Peninsula.
Snow, Ice Potential
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For now, the highest snowfall amounts are possible from northern Texas and southern Oklahoma into Arkansas and northern Mississippi. Some of these areas may pick up 5 inches or more.
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Generally light to moderate snow accumulations are expected elsewhere in the South, as the map below shows. But that’s enough to make travel challenging in the Southeast late this week.
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Accumulating sleet or ice is possible along the southern edge of the snowfall area shown in the map below. This may be enough to make roads hazardous and could lead to tree damage and power outages in some areas.
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Check back with us at weather.com for updates to this forecast.
(MORE: Why Snowfall Forecast Sometimes Change)
Atlantic Bomb Cyclone?
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This weekend, the low pressure system should move into the western Atlantic Ocean.
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It’s here where the low could intensify rapidly into a bomb cyclone, basically an intense, windy area of low pressure.
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For now, a majority of computer model forecasts suggest that intensification may occur too far off the East Coast for significant impacts this weekend.
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That’s said, it’s too soon to rule out this intensification closer to the East Coast. Again, check back with us at weather.com for updates.
winter storm forecast
Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him on Bluesky, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.