At a Glance
- A weekend storm could dump crippling ice and heavy snow from New Mexico to Maine.
- Central Virginia may see “crippling amounts of ice,” forecaster Sean Sublette warns.
- More than 2 inches of water equivalent is expected across a wide southern and eastern band.
- Why it matters: Power outages and dangerous roads are likely in regions still recovering from past winter disasters.
A mid-week forecast flip has meteorologists warning that a sprawling winter storm now taking shape could coat parts of the South and mid-Atlantic in thick ice while dumping heavy snow farther north. Models that earlier suggested a routine snow event have trended toward a high-impact scenario, prompting forecasters to urge early preparation.
Forecast Shift Triggers Alarm
Sean Sublette, a Virginia-based meteorologist, began the week advising locals to expect snow. By Wednesday morning the guidance had changed. “Some of the data is putting down crippling amounts of ice for my area of central Virginia,” he told News Of Fort Worth. Heavy freezing rain-liquid that freezes on contact-can topple trees and knock out power for days.
Sublette stressed that exact totals remain uncertain. Still, the threat is serious enough that residents from the Rockies to New England should monitor trusted local forecasts through the weekend.
National Weather Service Signals “Key Messages”
On Wednesday the National Weather Service released a series of “Key Messages” noting that snow could begin Friday in the Rockies and Plains before spreading to the East Coast on Sunday. South of the snow zone, forecasters expect freezing rain and sleet.
Maps distributed by the agency show nearly 30 states in the cross-hairs, stretching from:
- New Mexico and Texas
- Up to Maine
- As far south as Georgia
Meteorologists emphasize these are not formal warnings but early indicators. Forecast precision will improve as the storm evolves.
Moisture-Laden System Poses Wild Card
Atmospheric scientist Matthew Cappucci told News Of Fort Worth the system has “gathered up a lot of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico,” ensuring widespread precipitation. The unanswered question is the form that moisture will take.
Key unknowns include the track of an upper-level low spinning over the Pacific. Its eventual path will determine where rain transitions to snow, sleet, or freezing rain.
Cappucci expects “a wide swath of the southern and eastern United States will see 2-plus inches’ worth of water,” but cautions that the rain-snow-ice divide remains unclear.
Historical Under-Preparation Raises Stakes
Many regions in the storm’s potential footprint have struggled with past winter events:
- A 2014 ice storm across Georgia and South Carolina left thousands without power for days.
- A 2021 Texas winter storm caused a two-week outage and nearly 250 deaths.
Sublette worries a similar cold snap behind the new storm could strand residents without heat. “It’s 20 degrees,” he said, describing a scenario where ice downs lines. “Stuff starts weighing down… we’ve got a problem.”
Misinformation Clouds Early Messaging
Both Sublette and Cappucci warned against viral social-media posts predicting precise snow or ice totals days in advance. “There is an abundance of misinformation out there,” Cappucci said, urging the public to rely on local National Weather Service offices or vetted broadcast meteorologists rather than hype-driven accounts.
Residents should prepare emergency kits, charge devices, and map out warmth options if outages occur, while waiting for refined forecasts expected by Friday.
Key Takeaways
- Forecast confidence is high that a large storm will affect ~30 states this weekend; exact snow and ice totals remain uncertain.
- Heavy freezing rain is a growing threat for parts of Virginia and the Carolinas, raising the risk of widespread power loss.
- Cold air set to follow the storm could prolong hazardous travel and complicate recovery efforts.
- Officials recommend finalizing preparations now and monitoring updates from trusted local sources through the weekend.
