DALLAS — Residents from Texas to Tennessee prepared on Wednesday for the oncoming threat of freezing rain and snow, while other regions already impacted by a frigid air mass braced for additional severe weather. Weather forecasts indicated that parts of the United States were expecting another wave from the polar vortex this week.
In Little Rock, Arkansas, city officials announced school closures for Thursday and Friday as they readied for significant snowfall beginning overnight. Meanwhile, regions including Kansas City continued to deal with severe cold, resulting in the cancellation of classes for the third consecutive day. Richmond, Virginia, remained under a boil-water advisory due to weather-related issues, indicating that daily routines had yet to return to normal in many areas.
Interestingly, as the cold weather blanketed parts of the nation, rare January wildfires swept through the Los Angeles area, forcing residents to evacuate their homes amidst flames, fierce winds, and dense smoke.
Forecasters projected a combination of sleet, snow, and freezing rain to impact a corridor stretching from New Mexico to Alabama starting Wednesday night and extending into early Thursday. The heaviest accumulation was anticipated in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas, with meteorologists warning that southern areas might experience sleet and ice, creating dangerous driving conditions.
By Friday, the weather system is expected to move northeastward, bringing heavy snow and freezing rain from southeastern Oklahoma and northeastern Texas all the way to the coastlines of Virginia and North Carolina. As much as 8 inches of snow could blanket parts of Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia through Saturday.
In preparation for the storm, Georgia’s Governor Brian Kemp announced the closure of some state offices on Friday, while Atlanta’s Mayor Andre Dickens stated that city offices would remain closed as employees transition to remote work.
Usually confined to the North Pole, the polar vortex occasionally impacts regions in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Experts suggest that the increasing frequency of these cold air outbreaks may be paradoxically linked to global warming.
In the Dallas area, road crews were proactive in treating streets ahead of predictions of 2 to 4 inches of snow on Thursday, coupled with sleet and rain. Some northern areas near the Oklahoma border could see up to 5 inches, according to weather reports.
Grocery delivery driver Mark Reid noted the surge in his workload as he prepared to hunker down at home after finishing his deliveries for the day. Texas Governor Greg Abbott indicated that emergency services were mobilized and hundreds of warming centers established ahead of the storm. He urged residents to refrain from driving unless necessary, emphasizing the importance of safety.
Abbott expressed confidence in the state’s power grid, particularly after its failure during a severe cold event in 2021 that left millions without electricity. He assured residents that, should outages occur this week, they will likely result from fallen power lines rather than grid capacity failures.
The storm threatened to create hazardous travel conditions on Friday as around 75,000 fans head to AT&T Stadium in Arlington for the Cotton Bowl matchup featuring Texas and Ohio State. Arlington officials affirmed that measures were in place to address any weather-related road safety issues.
Farmers and ranchers in Kansas faced significant challenges from the extreme weather, which had dumped a year’s worth of snow in some areas. Meteorologist Chip Redmond highlighted the dangers posed to livestock, particularly calves, during freezing temperatures. Furthermore, heavy snowfall could prevent farmers from accessing their herds to provide them with food and water.
In northern Florida, concerns were raised regarding fern production ahead of Valentine’s Day, though damage to citrus groves seems to be minimal, as most are situated in warmer southern areas unaffected by the winter weather.
In Richmond, Virginia, officials announced that the city would remain under a boil-water advisory until at least Friday due to a malfunction in the water reservoir system caused by a power outage from the storm. City officials were actively distributing bottled water to residents throughout the city while authorities worked on restoring the water supply.
The severe weather also created considerable disruptions across multiple states, with over 50,000 customers without power in Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Virginia, and West Virginia. Travel delays skyrocketed, with thousands of flights canceled or postponed due to the icy conditions.
Authorities reported multiple accidents resulting from the severe weather, including fatalities in Virginia and other states. In Birmingham, Alabama, the coroner’s office began investigating three potential hypothermia-related deaths due to the plummeting temperatures.
As communities brace for continued harsh weather, officials continue to monitor the situation closely, providing updates and assistance to those in need.
