Winter Storm Sweeps Southern U.S., Disrupting Travel and Schools

DALLAS — A powerful winter storm swept across the southern United States on Friday, dumping heavy snow and ice from Texas to the Carolinas, prompting states of emergency, school closures, and widespread travel disruptions. The storm, which began in Texas and Oklahoma, moved eastward, affecting millions of residents and leaving roads treacherous across the region.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders mobilized the National Guard to assist stranded motorists, while schools were canceled for millions of children from Texas to Georgia. The National Weather Service reported snowfall totals ranging from 6 to 9 inches in parts of Arkansas and Tennessee, with some areas receiving up to a foot of snow. Memphis, Tennessee, saw 6 inches of snow by Friday morning, with heavy, wet flakes continuing to fall.

In Atlanta, Mikayla Johnson, 12, celebrated her snow day by making snow angels and snowmen. “My first thought was, WOW!” she said. “We haven’t had snow since I was like 4 — the good snow, at least. So, I’m really happy.” The storm brought as much as 7 inches of snow to parts of central Oklahoma and northern Texas, while metro Atlanta experienced significant flight cancellations and delays at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest airport.

Travel disruptions extended beyond Atlanta. Four passengers were injured when a Delta Air Lines plane bound for Minneapolis aborted takeoff Friday morning. One passenger was hospitalized, while three others received minor injuries. Airports in Charlotte, North Carolina, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Nashville also reported significant delays and cancellations.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott urged residents to avoid driving if possible, even as 75,000 fans were expected at AT&T Stadium in Arlington for the college football championship semifinal. The storm’s impact was felt as far north as Kansas City, where schools reopened Thursday only to close again Friday due to additional snowfall.

Georgia officials, recalling the disastrous 2014 snowstorm that left thousands stranded, acted swiftly to cancel in-person classes and close offices. James Stallings, director of Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security, said crews were towing stalled vehicles to prevent road blockages. “We learned lessons from past Atlanta ice storms,” he said.

In Alabama, schools in the northern half of the state were closed as roads became impassable. Tennessee declared a state of emergency, with Memphis-Shelby County Schools, the state’s largest district, closing all schools Friday. Tours at Graceland, Elvis Presley’s former home-turned-museum, were also canceled.

Joe Feliciano, a Florida native delivering mail in Nashville, said he was “nervous, but confident” driving in the snow. “This is like, ‘Wow!’ This is a lot of snow,” he said. Parts of South Carolina saw their first wintry weather in three years, with icy conditions causing vehicles to slip off Interstate 95 south of Columbia.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein declared a state of emergency, canceling a public outdoor inauguration ceremony in Raleigh. The storm is expected to continue through Saturday, with up to 8 inches of snow forecast for parts of Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

This winter storm highlights the challenges of extreme weather in a warming world. Some experts suggest that such events are becoming more frequent due to climate change, even as the polar vortex brings frigid air southward. The storm’s impact underscores the importance of preparedness and swift response to protect lives and infrastructure.