Seventeen states are under threat from another winter storm expected later this week, meteorologists have forecast.
The storm is expected to bring snow and ice from New Mexico through Texas and into parts of the Tennessee Valley starting midweek.
Why It Matters
Swathes of the U.S. had already seen plunging temperatures as frigid air was pushed throughout the eastern portion of the country, prompting several states to declare full or partial states of emergency.
Vulnerable populations, including infants and older adults, are at heightened risk of health issues due to the dangers of freezing temperatures.
What To Know
A forecast map from AccuWeather, which was shared with Newsweek, showed that New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina could be hit with snow between Wednesday and Friday.
A mixture of ice, snow and rain was forecast in parts of the northern areas of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.
Areas forecast for the heaviest amounts of snow included north-central Texas, northeast Texas, and western Arkansas.
AccuWeather forecast several inches of snow in Dallas and along parts of I-20 in northern Texas, warning that the storm could "essentially shut down travel across northern Texas by Thursday night into Friday."
AccuWeather forecast mainly rain for the southern regions of Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and South Carolina.
"Major travel disruptions are anticipated due in part to dangerous driving conditions. The storm will lead to numerous flight delays and cancellations at the airport, as well as many other hubs in the southern United States as the storm moves eastward this weekend," AccuWeather's advisory said.
"Very cold conditions will precede and follow the storm, which will increase the staying power of slippery conditions and the potential for frozen pipes in poorly insulated areas," it continued.
What People Are Saying
AccuWeather meteorologist Tom Kines told Newsweek: "The next storm will begin to affect Texas with sleet, freezing rain and snow Wednesday night into Thursday. Cities such as Dallas, Texas, Austin, Texas, and perhaps even San Antonio, Texas, can experience wintry weather."
What Happens Next
AccuWeather meteorologist Bernie Rayno said the late-week storm could play out in two ways.
In one scenario, the storm shifts farther south, with limited snow and ice. Alternatively, if the storm tracks up the coast and intensifies, it could lead to a large snowstorm spanning from the Carolinas to the mid-Atlantic and possibly extending into eastern New England.
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