Major winter storm targeting southern states!
An area of low pressure is currently skirting along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast and will migrate east toward the Florida panhandle into tomorrow. This low will pull Gulf moisture into the Arklatrex and Mid South, which will interact with a cold air mass residing over this same area. This will set the stage for a major winter weather event to unfold over a large part of the southern U.S., with crippling freezing rain accumulations to heavy sleet and snow possible. Right now, parts of northeast Texas, northwest Louisiana and southwest Arkansas are under a heavy band of precip, where snowfall rates of 1-2" or more per hour are likely occurring along with sleet and/or graupel. This precip will expand in coverage and spread to the north and east, where places like Pine Bluff, AR, Tupelo, MS and Chattanooga, TN could eventually see as much as 8" of snow, and substantial travel issues would result. In other areas such as Meridian, MS and Montgomery, Alabama, the bigger concern is freezing rain, where the potential for ice accumulations of 1/2" or more exists. This amount of ice would likely cause widespread power outages, as trees and power lines would not be able to withstand the added weight. Residents of the Mid-South are encouraged to monitor the latest conditions and advisories through local media and NWS, and prepare for the impending weather event! It's bread, milk and generator time!
Visit local NWS websites affected by the winter storm, below:
Shreveport, LA | Little Rock, AR | Memphis, TN | Jackson, MS | Birmingham, AL | Peachtree City, GA http://www.tornadovideos.net/component/content/article/1-latest-news/1324-major-winter-storm-targeting-southern-states
