Southern U.S. Prepares for Winter Storm to Start the Week

A rare winter storm is going to impact the Gulf Coast and the Southeast beginning this week, likely resulting in widespread disruptions such as power outages and school closures. Read on for the details of this system that is forecast to bring ice and snow to parts of the country not accustomed to dealing with wintry precipitation.

Southern U.S. Prepares for Winter Storm

The influx of Arctic air that is seeping into the southern tier of the U.S. to close out the weekend will lay the groundwork for a winter storm that is coming together along the Texas Gulf Coast. This system will eventually make its way to the east, bringing the threat of numerous disruptions to millions of Americans in the South.

The forecast is calling for the rain and drizzle to first erupt along the South Texas coastline on Monday. The mass of moisture will begin to stretch to the north later on Monday, sending sleet, freezing rain, and the chance of snow to central and northeastern portions of the Lone Star State by the overnight hours. The chance of wintry precipitation will linger into Tuesday for this portion of Texas before the storm pushes to the east.

The upper Gulf Coast will be the next region to see the risk of snow and ice. Motorists using Interstate 10 through Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina will want to be aware of the threat of this dangerous precipitation on the roadways. There is also the chance that the icy conditions could dip as far south as northern Florida at times.

The air mass to the north of the weather maker is not working with any moisture. This means that there will be a sharp gradient on the north side of the storm, resulting in little to no accumulation on the northern flank of the system.

The latest forecast models indicate that the storm will take a turn to the north as it approaches the Atlantic coastline on Tuesday night. The extent of the northern track and the precise timing will influence if northeastern Florida and the coastal portions of Georgia dodge the snow. However, there is also the possibility that a major ice storm takes root across northern Florida and the southeastern corner of Georgia.

A faster jaunt to the north would mean the flakes will fly across northern Georgia, northern South Carolina, and the western and central portions of North Carolina on Tuesday night. This line of snow would then move into the mid-Atlantic coastal region by Wednesday.

It does not take much snow or ice for life in the southern U.S. to come to a halt. A lack of snow-melting equipment and supplies makes it more difficult for life to return to normal after Old Man Winter rears his head. The surge of frigid temperatures will also raise the threat of power outages and frozen pipes.

The extent of the disruptions in the South will be dependent on the form the precipitation takes as it falls to the ground. Sleet and freezing rain are the most damaging to power lines and trees as they tend to cling and build up.  There is still a range of possibilities tied to this storm system as it relates to the forms that the precipitation may take.

History of Winter Weather in the South

While it is true that the South does not typically see winter weather of this magnitude, the region still experiences the occasional storm packing wintry precipitation. For instance, the city of Houston recorded 19 inches of snow during a storm in February of 1895. This same system sent 1 to 3 feet of snow over the ground across the south-central portions of the U.S. The community of Lafayette, Louisiana reported 14 inches of snow during this event while New Orleans saw a rare 8 inches of accumulation.

A January storm in 1940 resulted in up to 10 inches of snow across the Atlanta metro area. In more recent years, a storm in March of 1993 resulted in over 4 inches of accumulation for the Peach City.

Even more recently, a widespread winter weather event in December of 2017 dumped several inches of snow across a zone from southeastern Louisiana and over into northwestern Georgia. Florida is also no stranger to the occasional wintry precipitation, particularly in the panhandle region.

Nobody will soon forget the deep freeze and winter storm of February 2021 in the southern U.S. This event triggered widespread power outages for a large portion of Texas and Louisiana as the mercury plummeted to readings that were up 40 degrees below the historical average. Up to 6 inches of snow blanketed the hardest hit areas, exacerbating the issues.

Forecasters do not believe that this week's winter storm will compare to the February 2021 disaster. However, it will likely be significant enough to cause major disruptions. This is the time to stock up on necessities and prepare for the potential of power outages. 

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