Winter Storm Cora to sweep southern states with heavy snow, ice

Authorities warn southern states to expect heavy snow, freezing rain, and ice through the end of the week as Winter Storm Cora sweeps across Texas, through the Mississippi Valley, and into the southeast. Many areas should expect over 4 inches of snow along with power outages and downed tree limbs, according to the National Weather Service. Areas in over a dozen states are under a winter storm warning, with Oklahoma and Arkansas slated to receive the most snow. Parts of the Texas Panhandle, eastern New Mexico, and southern Oklahoma already received up to 6 inches of snow, according to Weather.com. Authorities warn motorists to expect dangerous travel conditions and roadblocks.

How is the storm supposed to play out? A bulk of snow for the states in the mid-South like Kentucky and Tennessee will hit Friday, Weather.com reported. Areas of northern Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina should also expect the most snow on Friday. More snow may continue into Saturday, but authorities mostly expect light sleet or freezing rain as the storm exits off the coastal Carolinas. The Ohio Valley and the Great Lakes region should expect up to 3 inches of overspread snow from Cora, officials added.

Some states are still feeling the effects of the last winter blast earlier this week. A water outage in Richmond, Va., entered its fourth day without water on Thursday, after a mid-Atlantic winter storm knocked out the power at the city’s water plant. The loss of power caused flood damage within the facility, officials said. Kentucky residents already received about 7 inches of snow earlier this week, according to a local outlet.

Dig deeper: Read Josh Schumacher’s report about the last winter storm to hit the South earlier this week.