Parts of Texas and the US south are getting hit with yet another winter storm.
The winter storm will hit central and northern Texas with 1-6in (3-15cm) of snow, according to the latest update from AccuWeather. Pockets of snowfall from 6-12in are expected to hit north of Dallas, Texas; to Arkansas, Tennessee and eastern North Carolina through Friday.
Several north Texas school districts have closed due to the storm, which could bring more than a year’s worth of snow to Dallas, Texas, where the yearly average snowfall is 1.6in, including sleet. Hundreds of flights in the Dallas area have been cancelled. Road conditions in the area are expected to become dangerous by midday Thursday.
In Little Rock, Arkansas, school districts have closed on Thursday and Friday in preparation for the storm. Kansas City, Missouri, had closed classes on Wednesday for the third straight day due to the blast in freezing temperatures, and Richmond, Virginia, is still under a water boil advisory after the winter storm on Monday knocked out power at the local main water plant.
Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia announced some state offices would close on Friday due to the storm. On Thursday, Kemp issued a state of emergency for Georgia ahead of the storm expected to hit the state early on Friday. In Atlanta, Mayor Andre Dickens said city offices would be closed due to the incoming weather, with all city government offices closed but employees required to work virtually.
Alabama’s governor, Kay Ivey, issued a state of emergency for 37 counties in the state in anticipation of the storm, advising Alabamians to prep for the weather and try to avoid being on the road.
The National Weather Service reported a wintry mix of mostly sleet and rain would grow in intensity, with the highest impacts expected this evening in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Governor Greg Abbott advised Texans to avoid traveling on roadways due to the snow and ice accumulations in a press conference on Wednesday. Power outages remain a concern as ice could cause local utility outages.
“Some impacts are widespread closures, treacherous travel, scattered power outages, and downed branches expected from the Red River Valley and southern Ozarks through the Lower Mississippi Valley, Tennessee Valley, and Southern Appalachians,” reported the National Weather Service on Thursday morning.
“Some of the heaviest snowfall will be over the Tennessee Valley, which will be 6 inches on Friday.”
The cold blast hitting the US south from the Arctic has been attributed to the polar vortex, but scientists who author the polar vortex blog at Climate.gov noted the polar vortex is not responsible for the recent cold air outbreaks.
