While the Midwest and Central Atlantic are still spared from a major winter storm, another is expected to sweep across the southern and eastern United States this week, bringing snow, sleet and freezing rain from Texas across the Carolinas.

Winter storm warnings have been issued for parts of North Texas, southeastern Oklahoma, Arkansas and northern Louisiana – including in cities where it’s not common to see much snow.

“In places that don’t get snow or ice very often, like Austin, Dallas, Little Rock and Nashville, it’s going to be a big deal,” AccuWeather meteorologist Tom Kines told USA Today.

What timing is predicted for this storm?

According to the National Weather Service’s latest forecast, the system will produce light snow across West Texas on Wednesday before moving into North Texas on Thursday as a wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain.

It will then move east, bringing snow and ice to Kentucky, Tennessee, northern Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and possibly the Carolinas on Thursday and Friday.

His arrival comes days after a severe winter storm raged across the middle of the country, bringing heavy snow from the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic, leading to thousands of flight cancellations and leaving hundreds of thousands without power.

How much snow is predicted?

According to the weather service’s Dallas-Fort Worth office, an accumulation of 3 to 6 inches is possible in northern Texas north of I-20, southeastern Oklahoma and Arkansas.

Depending on the direction of the storm, light to moderate snow totaling a few inches is possible in areas further east, with sleet or freezing rain accumulating on the southern edge.

According to the weather service, ice accumulations of about a tenth of an inch are possible.

What effects can be expected on travel?

In addition to possible flight delays and cancellations for airports in the affected areas, hazardous driving conditions are likely, particularly during the Thursday morning and evening commutes.

“Roads, and particularly bridges and overpasses, are likely to become slippery and dangerous,” the weather service warned. “Traveling could be very difficult, if not impossible.”

What about Texas’ energy grid?

Previous winter storms impacted Texas’ energy grid, causing widespread power outages as bitter temperatures led to greater demand for electricity.

The state’s grid operator, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), issued a weather alert earlier this week, noting that it is “closely monitoring conditions” but “grid conditions are expected to be normal.”