Disruptive Snow to Slow Travel From Dallas to Raleigh, NC

By Brian Lada, Meteorologist

February 24,2015; 9:20PM,EST

 

 

Cold air from Canada and moisture from the Gulf of Mexico will clash to bring a significant winter storm with accumulating snow and an icy mix in a large part of the South at midweek.
While much of the Deep South can expect rain from Wednesday into Thursday, a corridor of snow will set up along the northern periphery of the precipitation, reaching from northeast Texas to southern Virginia.
Travel disruptions will unfold on Wednesday morning spreading from west to east, impacting Dallas; Little Rock, Arkansas, and Shreveport, Louisiana, during the morning before advancing into Huntsville, Alabama; Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Atlanta during the afternoon.
The biggest impacts will be felt by travelers taking to the roads as snow and sleet are forecast to cause paved surfaces to become slick.

Even if the snow doesn't stick to the roads during the middle of the day, colder conditions at night can cause wet surfaces to freeze; especially on the back roads, said AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Frank Strait.
During Wednesday afternoon into Thursday morning, significant flight delays and cancellations are possible at Atlanta, one of the busiest airports in the nation.

The greatest impacts will be felt in the Appalachian Mountains and across the Carolinas on Wednesday night and into Thursday.
The highest accumulations are expected over the mountains, but some spots in North Carolina and southern Virginia could pick up over 6 inches.

"There's going to be a sweet spot somewhere," said Strait.
The Thursday commute could be the worst time to travel in eastern Tennessee, southern Virginia and the Carolinas due to snow-covered roads and poor visibility.
People from the northern Atlanta suburbs to Greenville and Anderson, South Carolina; Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Raleigh and Fayetteville, North Carolina; and Richmond and Norfolk, Virginia, will likely be facing a significant winter storm during Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
Anyone that has to drive in this area on Thursday morning should allow ample time to reach their destination to account for lower travel speeds, accidents and lane closures.
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Some snow will extend as far north as northern Virginia to Delmarva by Thursday morning. A small accumulation of snow is possible from Washington, D.C., to Dover, Delaware, and Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Some natural melting of the snow on the roads will occur during Thursday midday and afternoon, which may allow highway travel to improve somewhat, once roads are plowed.
Wet and slushy roads could become icy Thursday evening as temperatures fall.

Dry weather will be the theme across the Southeast on Friday with chilly air lingering around in the wake of the storm to close out the week.
Know when the snow will start at your exact location by using AccuWeather MinuteCast®