A winter storm is expected to sweep across a 1,400-mile swath of the southern United States starting Thursday, burying some states in up to a foot of snow.
The massive path of the storm, dubbed Cora, extends over 18 states from New Mexico to Virginia, where the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued winter storm watches, watches and/or winter weather advisories.
Between 1 and 6 inches of snow could accumulate from central Texas across much of Tennessee and southern Appalachia over the next two days.
“If six inches of snow fall in Dallas, it will be in the top five snowfalls on record,” said Dan DeBaudouin, senior director of forecasting operations at AccuWeather.
But pockets of heavy snowfall of up to 12 inches are possible from just north of Dallas to Little Rock, Arkansas, as well as eastern Tennessee and high elevations in western North Carolina, according to Accuweather Meteorologists.
Cora’s impact could extend into the Ohio Valley, Great Lakes, mid-Atlantic and Northeast, although storm conditions will be minor in these areas.
Temperatures fell well below average across the South, which will allow for snow and ice to accumulate Thursday and Friday.
Widespread ice could be heavy enough to cause scattered power outages, as several states in the storm’s path are still working to restore power in the wake of Winter Storm Blair.
This wintry chaos will create dangerous travel conditions throughout the region Thursday through Friday, including in and around the Dallas-Fort metro areas. Worth, Little Rock, Nashville, Atlanta, and Charlotte.
“People should delay travel if possible.” If travel is absolutely necessary, please drive with extreme caution and be prepared for sudden changes in visibility, the NWS advised.
As Winter Storm Cora heads toward the southern United States, nine states are closing schools, stocking up on supplies and preparing for dangerous roads
The storm has already brought a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain to West Texas this morning, and will spread eastward into northern Texas, Oklahoma, southern Kansas and western Arkansas as the day goes on, the Weather Channel reported.
Driving could be dangerous Thursday in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Dallas-Ft. “Worth, Little Rock and the Texas Hill Country,” Channel He added.
Winter precipitation is expected to taper off in Texas and Oklahoma by midday Friday, but snow will spread from the Mid-South into Kentucky, Tennessee and far northern parts of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and northern South Carolina.
A mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain could hit near and north of Interstate 20 from northern Louisiana into Georgia and South Carolina.
“This could lead to dangerous travel through these areas, with some roads potentially becoming impassable, especially in hilly or mountainous terrain,” meteorologists at The Weather Channel stated.
Travel will be risky in Atlanta, Birmingham, Charlotte, Huntsville, Little Rock, Memphis, Nashville and Knoxville for at least part of Friday.
Roads may be slick in the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes due to light snowfall, which will spread across the mid-Atlantic and parts of the Northeast Friday night.
Heading into the weekend, the storm will move into the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, with areas of snow remaining near the East Coast and in the Appalachian Mountains early Saturday.
By Thursday, driving could be dangerous in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Little Rock and the Texas Hill Country, the Weather Channel reported.
Winter rain is expected to taper off in Texas and Oklahoma by midday Friday, but snow will spread east into Kentucky, Tennessee, northern Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and northern South Carolina.
Heading into the weekend, the storm will move into the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, with areas of snow remaining near the East Coast and in the Appalachian Mountains early Saturday.
Travel will be difficult, especially early in the morning, from North Georgia to parts of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.
As the weekend approaches, the storm will move offshore and into the Atlantic Ocean, but it may move as far north as southern New England before it does, according to AccuWeather.
Winter Storm Cora comes as the eastern United States faces a blast of Arctic air that will drop temperatures as much as 30 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit below average in the first two weeks of January.
The area most affected by these freezing temperatures will be the Northern Plains and Midwest to the Inland Southeast.
If six inches of snow fell in Dallas, it would be in the top five snowfalls on record. A runner jogs down a snow-covered road in Louisville, Kentucky on January 5
Winter Storm Cora comes just days after Winter Storm Blair brought heavy snow and ice to the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic. Pictured is a man moving snow in Shawnee, Kansas on January 5
Winter Storm Blair left tens of thousands of homes and businesses without power in states from Missouri to Virginia. Cincinnati, January 6, 2025
As of Tuesday, the combined impact of the Arctic blast and Winter Storm Blair, which wreaked havoc in the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic this week, had killed at least six people.
The majority of these deaths were related to traffic accidents, but one victim was found frozen to death at a bus stop in Houston, Texas.
The storm left tens of thousands of homes and businesses without power in states from Missouri to Virginia, and while most had power restored as of Thursday morning, winter storm Cora threatens to cause more outages.
Meanwhile, fast-moving wildfires are sweeping through the Los Angeles area, sparked by a powerful Santa Ana wind storm that swept through Southern California on Tuesday.
More than 250,000 customers were without power, and more than 80,000 people were ordered to evacuate on Wednesday.
More than 1,400 firefighters are working to contain multiple fires, but at this time, several fires remain 0 percent under control, including the two largest fires: the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire, which have collectively burned 27,800 acres.