A major winter storm this weekend is forecast to stretch from the Southwest across the South and into the Mid‑Atlantic and Northeast, affecting a roughly 2,000‑mile swath of the United States. Many big cities from Texas to New England are in the potential impact zone.

Main areas being hit

  • Southern Rockies and southern High Plains, including parts of New Mexico, Colorado, and the Texas/Oklahoma Panhandle, are expected to see significant snow and ice starting Friday.
  • Southern Plains into the Lower Mississippi Valley (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana) are under or near winter storm watches, with forecasts of heavy snow and ice, and dangerous travel.
  • Tennessee Valley and parts of the Deep South (Tennessee, northern Mississippi/Alabama, northern Georgia, the Carolinas) could see snow or ice, with some areas particularly worried about icing and power outages.
  • Mid‑Atlantic and Northeast, from around Virginia and West Virginia through Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, and possibly up to Boston, are expected to see periods of heavy snow and hazardous travel as the storm moves east.

Cities likely in the path

Meteorologists currently highlight risks for many major metro areas, including:

  • Dallas, Austin, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Amarillo
  • Little Rock, Shreveport, Memphis, Nashville
  • Atlanta, Charlotte, Raleigh (path may shift for the Deep South)
  • Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, Boston

Exact snow/ice amounts will depend on the final track and temperature profile, which can still shift by a couple of hundred miles north or south.

What impacts to expect

  • Hazardous to impossible travel on interstates and secondary roads where heavy snow or ice develops.
  • Risk of downed trees and power lines, especially in zones of significant ice accretion in parts of the South and Tennessee Valley.
  • Bitter cold following the storm could prolong icy conditions and complicate power restoration in some areas.

Quick safety checklist

  • Delay non‑essential travel during peak storm hours if you are along this corridor from New Mexico/Texas through the Tennessee Valley to the Mid‑Atlantic and Northeast.
  • Prepare for possible power outages in areas expecting ice (charge devices, have flashlights, batteries, extra blankets, and some non‑perishable food and water).
  • Check your local National Weather Service office or a trusted local meteorologist for the most specific, up‑to‑the‑hour forecast for your town, since the rain/snow/ice line can be very sharp over short distances.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.