This graphic displays the future radar and pressure for the winter storm charging east through Monday.(FOX Weather)
More than 175 million people are in the path of a potentially historic winter storm that’s expected to extend over 2,000 miles and deliver crippling snow and ice across more than 30 states, all told beginning Friday.
HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER
A wide swath of winter weather will slam the country through the weekend, moving from the Southwest through Texas and Oklahoma, across the South and Tennessee Valley, before eventually reaching the Mid-Atlantic coast.
Behind the storm itself, Arctic temperatures could freeze snow and ice, potentially creating long-duration power outages and paralyzing travel for days.
A key remaining question is exactly how far north this storm will track — a shift will determine which states will see heavy snow versus hazardous ice.
WHAT IS THE JET STREAM?
However, those living along the Interstate 40 and 20 corridors should prepare for days of impactful winter weather beginning Friday and lasting through the weekend.
Airports across those corridors will also likely see days of significant cancellations and delays.
POLAR VORTEX LOCKS IN OVER MOST OF US, DAYS OF ARCTIC TEMPERATURES AHEAD FOR MILLIONS THROUGH JANUARY
Winter weather alerts issued across the South
Ahead of the storm, the first wave of Winter Weather Alerts has been issued for portions of Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas from Friday night through Saturday. Heavy accumulations of snow and ice are possible, and Winter Weather Watches are in effect.
This graphic displays areas under Winter Weather Alerts from Friday through Saturday. (FOX Weather)
As we inch closer to the weekend and the forecast evolves further, preparations are underway in the areas across the South that rarely face the wrath of a major winter storm.
POTENTIAL HISTORIC WINTER STORM TRACKER: LIVE RADAR, FORECASTS FOR SNOW, ICE WITH ACTIVE WINTER WEATHER ALERTS
The state of Texas has activated its state emergency response resources in anticipation of the winter storm. Governor Greg Abbott said this is being done to ensure Texans have the resources they need before winter weather moves in.
Dangerous ice storm targets Southern Tier
Over 15 states stretching across a massive corridor from as far west as Nevada to the East Coast could potentially see ice from Friday through Monday.
WHAT ARE ICE STORMS AND WHY ARE THEY DANGEROUS?
This graphic displays the ice forecast Friday to Monday. (FOX Weather)
Current weather patterns suggest a classic set-up for a disruptive ice storm, as the biggest threat for ice into this weekend will include areas from Central Texas into Tennessee through the Carolinas.
With dangerous levels of ice threatening millions of Americans, slipping on the way out the door is not the only major concern.
This graphic displays the impact of different levels of ice. (FOX Weather)
As much as an ½ inch of ice is forecast to reach parts of North and South Carolina, Georgia, Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, threatening widespread power outages, fallen trees and dangerous travel conditions.
Power outages are possible across a massive area across the Southern Tier from Texas to the Carolinas.
This graphic displays areas that could potentially face power outages from the major winter storm. (FOX Weather)
Southern Plains
The potentially historic winter storm is forecast to begin starting Friday in the Southern Plains, and deliver potentially historic levels of snow and dangerous ice.
Winter Storm Watches issued across Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, including major cities such as Dallas, Oklahoma City, and Little Rock, will remain in place from Friday through Saturday when the peak of the storm is forecast to hit the Southern Plains.
This graphic showcases the snow potential in areas across the South through the weekend. (FOX Weather)
While the storm will progress into the Southeast, problems will remain as a deep freeze will prevent snow and ice from melting, which will prolong winter weather in affected areas.
HOW CAN SNOW MELT WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE BELOW FREEZING?
This graphic showcases the low temperature forecast in some areas across the South Sunday through Tuesday. (FOX Weather)
Right now, computer forecast models show the worst snow falling north of Interstate 20. Of particular note is I-35 from Oklahoma City to Dallas, where more than a foot of snow could fall starting as early as Friday morning and ending Sunday.
This major winter snowstorm could go down in history in Oklahoma City, where this storm could break into the top five largest snow events the city has ever seen.
Winter storm reaches the Southeast Saturday
The massive winter storm will reach the Southeast by Saturday, when a very strong area of high pressure will be positioned to the north across the Northern Plains and Midwest. This high, rotating clockwise, will funnel arctic air southward into the Southeast.
HOW HIGH PRESSURE AND LOW PRESSURE DRIVE THE WEATHER
Crippling ice is expected across Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, forecast to arrive into Saturday afternoon.
This graphic displays the future radar and pressure in the Southeast Sunday morning. (FOX Weather)
According to the FOX Forecast Center, the best chance for impactful snow includes areas across parts of Tennessee, Arkansas and North Carolina.
The highest snowfall totals from Friday through Monday are expected from Nashville through western North Carolina, including Winston Salem, where over a foot of snow is likely as colder air will favor a predominantly snow-driven event.
PARTS OF LOWER 48 COLDER THAN ALASKA THIS WEEK AS POLAR VORTEX SET TO GRIP NATION WITH WEEKS OF ARCTIC AIR
With the arctic invasion well underway bringing Alaska-like temperatures to several states in the Lower 48, snow and ice will stick around in affected areas in the Southeast.
Questions linger regarding the Mid-Atlantic and beyond
While the storm track and intensity remain uncertain, portions of the Mid-Atlantic could very well feel the freeze of this potentially historic major winter storm.
The greatest potential for significant snow in the Mid-Atlantic is across Virginia and Maryland, with the largest snowstorm in years possible in the late weekend.
This graphic displays the potential for snow in the Mid-Atlantic Friday Through Monday. (FOX Weather)
Across the Mid-Atlantic, arctic air will lock in mainly snow, and fortunately for residents in the region, they will likely miss out on the dangerous ice forecast to plague their southern neighbors.
Currently, the areas from Central Virginia into Maryland and southern New Jersey will see the highest potential for significant snow.
Several key questions remain as millions of Americans are threatened by winter weather this weekend. (FOX Weather)
The biggest question mark that remains is the extent of the precipitation shield in areas from Philadelphia into New York City into Sunday afternoon. If this can take a more northern track, snow will be possible for areas further north along the I-95 corridor, with snow across these regions ramping up Sunday and lasting into Monday afternoon.