Snowstorm barrels into southern US as icy weather widens

Snowstorm barrels into southern US as icy weather widens

A winter storm that forecasters warned could become one of the most significant to hit the southeastern United States in nearly a decade began hammering the region early on Tuesday, with snow and ice expected to spread through Wednesday.

The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings for parts of Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Maryland as the storm system moved inland from the Gulf Coast. Freezing rain was reported in Jackson, Mississippi, early on Tuesday and sleet and snow fell in other areas.

AccuWeather meteorologist David Rutter said the storm's effects would be felt over a wide area, with snow, sleet and freezing rain possible from eastern Texas through the Carolinas, Virginia, Washington D.C., Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Travel will become very difficult or impossible at times, he said.

Rutter said accumulations could reach 8 to 10 inches (20-25 centimeters) in parts of North Carolina and Virginia, while ice accretions of up to three-tenths of an inch (.75 centimeter) could cause more dangerous travel conditions.

By Tuesday evening, snow was falling heavily in Atlanta, though much of the metro area had yet to see accumulation. The weather service warned that icy conditions could make roads treacherous and urged drivers not to take to the road unless absolutely necessary.

The storm arrives as many Americans are staying home due to COVID-19 outbreaks. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp closed state government offices in 15 counties and warned the public to avoid travel during the storm, while North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper issued a similar advisory for that state.

Please stay off the roads if you can, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said on Twitter as he encouraged residents to follow weather bulletins.

Freezing rain warnings were also posted across a large swath of Kentucky, with forecasters warning that ice could accumulate to one-quarter of an inch (0.6 centimeter) and bring down tree limbs and power lines.

The weather service said snow totals in central and eastern Mississippi could reach 6 inches (15 centimeters). In Alabama, the weather service reported accumulations of several inches in some areas and warned that icy roads could make travel dangerous there as well.

In southern Mississippi, Amory Mayor Randy McLaughlin ordered a curfew from midnight Tuesday until noon Wednesday. He said police would be busy dealing with the storm and asked residents to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary.

Snowstorm barrels into southern US as icy weather widens

A winter storm that forecasters warned could become one of the most significant to hit the southeastern United States in nearly a decade began hammering the region early on Tuesday, with snow and ice expected to spread through Wednesday.

The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings for parts of Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Maryland as the storm system moved inland from the Gulf Coast. Freezing rain was reported in Jackson, Mississippi, early on Tuesday, and sleet and snow fell in other areas.

AccuWeather meteorologist David Rutter said the storm's effects would be felt over a wide area, with snow, sleet, and freezing rain possible from eastern Texas through the Carolinas, Virginia, Washington D.C., Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Travel will become very difficult or impossible at times, he said.

Rutter said accumulations could reach 8 to 10 inches (20-25 centimeters) in parts of North Carolina and Virginia while ice accretions of up to three-tenths of an inch (.75 centimeter) could cause more dangerous travel conditions.

By Tuesday evening, snow was falling heavily in Atlanta, though much of the metro area had yet to see accumulation. The weather service warned that icy conditions could make roads treacherous and urged drivers not to take to the road unless absolutely necessary.

The storm arrives as many Americans are staying home due to COVID-19 outbreaks. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp closed state government offices in 15 counties and warned the public to avoid travel during the storm, while North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper issued a similar advisory for that state.

Please stay off the roads if you can, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said on Twitter as he encouraged residents to follow weather bulletins.

Freezing rain warnings were also posted across a large swath of Kentucky, with forecasters warning that ice could accumulate to one-quarter of an inch (0.6 centimeter) and bring down tree limbs and power lines.

The weather service said snow totals in central and eastern Mississippi could reach 6 inches (15 centimeters). In Alabama, the weather service reported accumulations of several inches in some areas and warned that icy roads could make travel dangerous there as well.

In southern Mississippi, Amory Mayor Randy McLaughlin ordered a curfew from midnight Tuesday until noon Wednesday. He said police would be busy dealing with the storm and asked residents to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary.

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