Columbus, OH – A powerful winter storm is expected to impact nearly half of the United States from Friday through early next week, prompting the National Weather Service to issue widespread Winter Storm Watches stretching from the Southwest to the Mid-Atlantic.
Forecasters warn the system could bring a dangerous combination of heavy snow, significant ice accumulation, and extreme cold across dozens of states, including Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, and the Carolinas.
In the Southwest, mountain regions of Arizona and New Mexico are expected to receive 8 to 14 inches of snow, with locally higher totals at elevations above 7,000 feet. Travel through mountain passes may become difficult or impossible, particularly along major corridors such as Interstate 40.
Across the Southern Plains and Texas, the storm is forecast to produce a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain. Ice accumulations of up to half an inch are possible in parts of Texas, raising concerns for widespread power outages, downed trees, and hazardous road conditions. Arctic air following the storm could bring life-threatening cold and damage unprotected pipes.
Farther east, the Lower Mississippi Valley and Tennessee Valley face a high risk of significant icing, while portions of the Ohio Valley and central Appalachians could see heavy snow totals ranging from 6 to 12 inches, with locally higher amounts in mountainous terrain.
In Virginia, North Carolina, and parts of Georgia, forecasters warn that a prolonged period of mixed precipitation may lead to major infrastructure impacts and long-lasting power outages, potentially affecting the Monday morning commute.
The National Weather Service urges residents across the affected regions to monitor forecasts closely, prepare emergency kits, and consider delaying travel as conditions deteriorate. Officials caution that details will continue to evolve as the storm system develops.
