“Storm Chaos: ATL Airport Travel Disrupted for 80 Million Across the US”

ATLANTA – A major winter storm is advancing across the South on Friday after delivering snowy and icy conditions in the Dallas Metroplex and the southern Plains on Thursday.

Winter weather is progressing through the Southeast and into the mid-Atlantic and Northeast throughout the day.

Freezing rain will result in perilous icy conditions, with up to a third-inch of ice anticipated across north Georgia, including Atlanta, and the Upstate of South Carolina.

Winter weather warnings extend from Arkansas to Delaware and north into the Midwest and Great Lakes, affecting 80 million individuals across nearly 20 states.

The storm has disrupted air travel nationwide.

Thousands of flights have been terminated, including over 400 from Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport – the busiest airport in the country – where a ground delay has been implemented.

This signifies that flights may be held on the ground longer than usual to allow the airport to better regulate traffic during the adverse weather.

Significant issues with flights at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport in North Carolina were also noted, with at least 330 flights canceled.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp proclaimed a state of emergency prior to the snowfall. Four additional states have also proclaimed states of emergency: Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina.

Wintery road conditions resulted in numerous traffic incidents and spinouts across various states.

Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell McMurry stated there were a “substantial number” of spinouts on the roads Friday morning.

Winter weather caused collisions on Interstates 75 and 285 in the Atlanta metro region. State snow plows were ordered to clear driveable lanes that were to be treated to prevent ice formation on the roads, according to McMurry.

The commissioner reported that 600 snow plows have been activated statewide.

Despite these measures, many state roads near Atlanta and areas to the north were closed due to patches of ice, as noted on the DOT’s website.

The Arkansas Department of Transportation indicated that the majority of roads were blanketed in snow or slush on Friday.

Weather-related traffic incidents have been reported state-wide, including on interstates 40, 30, and 555.

FOX Weather Meteorologist Jane Minar reported that heavy wet snow was falling in Little Rock, Arkansas, on Friday morning. Approximately 7 inches had already accumulated in the city.

Clinton National Airport in Little Rock reopened late Friday morning after crews managed to clear sufficient snow from the airfield.

Road conditions began to worsen Thursday evening. Dashcam footage shows a semi-truck jackknifing on snow-covered Interstate 430 in Little Rock.

Exclusive FOX Weather Storm Tracker Brandon Copic recorded footage Thursday evening of a line of stranded vehicles assembling due to winter conditions on Interstate 30 south of Malvern, Arkansas.

FOX Weather Meteorologist Michael Estime also reported heavy wet snow in Memphis, Tennessee.

State officials urged residents to remain at home to allow plow trucks to operate freely.

Concentrating on Helene disaster area

Regions in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee that were devastated by Hurricane Helene will experience several inches of snow as the area continues to recover from the calamity.

Locations such as Asheville, North Carolina, may receive as much as 3 inches of snow.

Greater amounts are likely in the elevated areas near the North Carolina/Tennessee border.

Drone footage from FOX Weather Exclusive Storm Tracker Mark Sudduth shows debris in the Swannanoa River still remaining from Hurricane Helene covered in snow and ice as the storm passed over Asheville.

Sections of the Swannanoa were essentially frozen.

Emergency management teams were positioned in Western North Carolina and central parts of the state, stated North Carolina Emergency Management Director Will Ray at a Friday press briefing.

Snow and ice were also spotted in Asheville’s historic Biltmore Village, which was particularly hard-hit by Helene.

Severe cold will accompany the storm with temperatures fluctuating from near freezing during the day on Friday to the teens by Saturday night. Blustery winds will add an extra chill to the cold, making it hazardous to be outdoors.

Snow and ice persist across South through Friday

Additional snow and ice will continue to blanket the South throughout Friday.

“Substantial ice accumulation on power lines and tree branches may lead to widespread and prolonged power outages,” National Weather Service forecasters noted in the Winter Storm Warning issued for Atlanta.

Charlotte and Columbia, South Carolina, could also witness significant icing, according to the FOX Forecast Center.

The greatest snow accumulations on Friday will occur across Tennessee and Kentucky where 5-8 inches of snow might fall.

The storm will swiftly proceed along the South and Gulf Coast before moving off the East Coast starting Friday evening.

Mid-Atlantic, Northeast will also experience snow

Snowy conditions are projected along parts of the densely populated Interstate 95 corridor before the storm exits the U.S. on Saturday.

A couple of inches of snow is possible in areas such as Washington and Philadelphia, while New York City and Boston could receive a light dusting.