The National Weather Service (NWS) had winter storm warnings in effect for 10 states early Wednesday, with “heavy snow” forecast in some areas.

Why it matters

Snow can cause travel disruption and dangerous driving conditions.

Vulnerable populations, including young children and seniors, are at increased risk of health problems due to the dangers of freezing temperatures.

What you should know

At the time of writing, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia were under a winter storm watch.

Affected areas included northeast Texas, southeast Oklahoma, most of Arkansas, northern Louisiana, all of Tennessee, northern Mississippi, western Kentucky, northern Georgia, northern Louisiana and the westernmost tip of Virginia.

The NWS said heavy snow or mixed precipitation was possible in affected areas, warning that the former could make some roads impassable and that dangerous driving conditions could apply to commuters on Thursday and Friday, depending on location.

In some cases, the service recommended postponing travel and, if travel was necessary, bringing winter storm gear.

Snow accumulations of up to 5 inches are possible in parts of central, eastern, north-central and western Arkansas, the service said.

Up to 7 or 8 inches was possible in parts of Tennessee, while up to 5 inches was visible in parts of north-central and northeast Texas.

Parts of Kentucky within the monitoring area could see up to 5 inches, but higher levels are possible locally, the NWS said.

The service added that a winter storm warning is issued “when there is a threat of significant and dangerous winter weather within 48 hours.”

It was noted that this does not mean that significant and dangerous winter weather will occur, just that it is possible.

What people say

Meteorologist Chikage Windler wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “As of Tuesday evening, the potential for significant winter weather impacts will be highest in northeast Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas.”

AccuWeather meteorologist Tom Kines said Newsweek: “The next storm will hit Texas with sleet, freezing rain and snow Wednesday night through Thursday. Cities like Dallas, Texas, Austin, Texas and perhaps even San Antonio, Texas may experience wintry weather.”

What happens next

Although the length of winter storm warnings varies from state to state, at the time of writing, the most recent storm warnings were in effect until Saturday morning.

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