State of Emergency Declared as Massive Snow and Ice Storm May Hit Carolinas, Virginia, Texas

Another round of winter storm is expected to hit the Carolinas just a few days after ice and snow disrupted travels and caused power outages in the western parts of the states. The approaching winter storm will also have an impact on parts of Virginia and Texas.

State of Emergency Declared in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia

As a result of the prediction, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has declared a state of emergency through Saturday. His executive order gives the state more leeway in mobilizing resources and personnel to prepare and respond.

To prepare for the storm system that was expected to arrive Thursday as a mixed precipitation system, then turn to snow Friday night into Saturday, the governors of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia all issued states of emergency.

As a precaution, transportation in southeastern Virginia, including Norfolk, will be shut down early on Friday evening, according to The Weather Channel.

Transportation by train and the Elizabeth Island Ferry will be part of this plan. Schools, universities, and government offices in southern Virginia will also be affected by the closures.

This is the second hurricane to hit North Carolina in less than a week, and Gov. Roy Cooper signed a state of emergency on Wednesday. In order to be ready to go to the affected areas, he said that 114 National Guard men were staging in central and eastern North Carolina on Thursday.

As overnight lows fall below zero over the next few days, he warned that power disruptions could become more prolonged due to ice buildup.

Mass School Closures in Affected Areas

After-school and extracurricular activities were canceled at a number of schools around the state.

Gov. Henry McMaster issued a state of emergency in South Carolina on Friday, closing schools and government offices in Charleston as well as other areas that don't experience much frozen precipitation.

In Bexar County, Texas, a number of warming shelters were opened because of possible hard freeze, as per KSAT.

Schools and institutions in South Texas and Louisiana, including certain campuses of Texas A&M University, were adjusting to modified schedules or remote learning.

Several school districts in the Southeast are shutting or going virtual on Friday, including those in Baldwin County, Alabama; Escambia County, Florida; and George and Stone counties in Mississippi, due to overnight freezing rain and low temperatures. Classes will begin again on Monday.

Snow Expected in the East

The Carolinas will be hit worse by this storm than they were by Winter Storm Izzy earlier this week. Cold air will be prevalent in the Carolinas on Friday as a sluggish cold front moves southward.

In the coastal Carolinas, freezing rain is predicted to cause considerable damage while up to 8 inches of snow is possible from North Carolina to Virginia. Eastern North Carolina is likely to bear the worst of the snowfall.

As far north as the northern Gulf Coast can see, a little freezing drizzle is conceivable. It is unlikely that much ice will form on the ground, although bridges and overpasses may turn slippery due to the wind.

In the Carolinas and Virginia, overnight temperatures are expected to fall into the 20s this weekend.

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