Weather Forecast: Freezing Conditions Through Midweek Expected for 40 Million People in Areas Texas to W Virginia

As a system continues to threaten heavy precipitation, significant icing, and bitter cold, more than 40 million people from areas in Texas to West Virginia are under winter weather alerts as of Monday.

The roads are expected to be hazardous, and quick frostbite is possible in some areas. Weather forecasts show that the freezing conditions will continue through midweek.

Freezing Conditions

More than a quarter inch of ice accumulation is anticipated in parts of central Texas, central Arkansas, southwest Oklahoma, and western Tennessee, where total freezing rain sums could become significant.

Additionally, over some of central Texas and Arkansas, there are low to moderate likelihood of three-day ice accumulation of more than a half inch.

Through Wednesday, the area will experience waves of wintry precipitation. Despite the possibility of breaks in the active weather, roadways will remain slick due to the cold temperatures throughout the event.

Over the weekend, as the arctic front moved slowly through the West, dangerously wintry air also settled in; by Monday morning, wind chill warnings were in effect for more than 15 million people.

The coldest wind chills can result in frostbite in as little as 10 minutes and wind chills that could reach as low as 45 degrees below zero are possible.

At least 15 states are expected to experience ice accumulation, the Weather Prediction Center said.

Weather Forecast

Monday. From parts of Texas to the Valeys of Ohio and Tennessee, freezing rain and sleet are likely to start on Monday morning, while a mass of cold air brings temperatures dropping to 30 degrees below average in areas from the central High Plains to the Upper Midwest.

While showers are predicted for parts of the Lower Mississippi, Tennessee, and Ohio Valleys, as well as the Northeast, the Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast, snow is predicted for parts of the Central Appalachians.

Monday Night. On Monday evening, an ice storm warning will be in effect for Memphis and the surrounding areas in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Travel could be "nearly impossible" during the warning, which is anticipated to last through Wednesday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

Tuesday Onwards. Parts of Texas and Oklahoma, which include Austin, Dallas, and Oklahoma City, will be under winter weather alerts until Wednesday as the freezing precipitation continues into Tuesday. By Tuesday, concerns about heavy rain and flash flooding increase in eastern Texas, and there is a slight chance of excessive rainfall on Wednesday from eastern Texas to northwest Louisiana.

Freezing rain is expected to start as early as Monday morning in Austin. When temperatures are the coldest, from late at night to mid-morning, icing will mostly be possible. From a tenth to a quarter inch of significant icing is forecast for Dallas as well.

Snowfall, Storms, Dangerous Roads

Oklahoma City may experience up to an inch of snowfall and two-tenths of an inch of ice. In the meantime, Springfield, Missouri, may experience up to an inch of snow, sleet, and ice, while St. Louis may experience ice accumulation of up to a tenth of an inch.

According to the Fort Worth office of the weather service, Tuesday is expected to have the biggest effects on travel in the Texas region due to the possibility of icy bridges and slippery roads. Roadways that were slick and black ice patches were to be avoided by drivers.

As freezing rain and sleet moved into the region on Monday morning, worsening travel conditions were anticipated to start in Oklahoma.

Additionally, the weather service office in Lincoln issued a warning about the possibility of slick roads, sidewalks, and parking lots as freezing drizzle moved across central Illinois on Sunday evening.

Road Accident

A deadly multi-vehicle crash occurred over the weekend in Carbon County, Wyoming, and it's possible that bad weather played a role.

One person was killed and several others were hurt in the collision on Interstate 80 on Saturday evening as an arctic front moved slowly through the region.

Even when no new snow was falling, excessively blowing snow and gusty winds kept visibility low at the time of the collision, which is why it is unknown what exactly caused it. Around 1 to 5 inches of snow fell in various I-80 locations, with some isolated spots along the road experiencing even higher accumulations.

Between two separate collisions on the interstate, 44 vehicles were involved, CNN reports.