I live in the Southern United States, Tennessee to be exact, and we are expected to get hammered with a severe winter storm. This storm has the potential to be historic to the south. So why could this winter storm be severe and historic. As an actual Meteorologist I'm going to explain that.

The Southern States of Kentucky, Tennessee, North Georgia, North Alabama, and North Mississippi are going to get hammered with a winter storm. This is significant because this area except for the higher elevations generally does not see severe winter storms. This winter storm has the potential to produce 0.25 inches of ice and then 3-8 inches of snow in the valleys. It has been a long time since the states I mentioned above had a significant winter storm like this.

Now unlike the upper Midwest, High Plains, Northeast and Rocky Mountains of the United States the south is not used to this. A storm like this could shut several cities down for more than 3 days. In addition, we are not used to driving in conditions. Kentucky and Tennessee may see some light snow in a given winter but most of the time the snow is 1 inch or less from a winter storm. What is more common in the south is ice storms.

How is this Winter Storm shaping up

You have warm air being pulled into the storm system aloft from the Gulf. Anytime you have cold air at the surface 32 degrees or below then you have a thin layer of warm air in the atmosphere that creates freezing rain. This is why many locations will start off with freezing rain. Eventually the colder air will filter in due to a dip in the jet stream. The dip in the Jet Stream is going to pull very cold arctic air down to the south. Eventually the colder air will take over the thin warm layer. This will cause all precipitation to change to snow.

The snow will stick on top of the ice. This will cause power lines to break and icing on the roads. In the mean time temperatures will not get above freezing until Thursday. Therefore, there will not be many melting days.

Why is this historic then?

It is historic because it has been a decade since the South had a significant winter storm like this. There have been typical ice storms but not with significant ice and significant snow, again by our standards. It is also historic due to the cold temperatures. In Kentucky the average January High is 47 degrees with an average low of about 26. In Tennessee and the other places the average high is 50-52 with an average low of 30-31 degrees. A lot of these places will have temperatures 0-8 degrees when the storm is done.

Another thing I would like to point out is a moderate to strong El Nino seems to enhance cold weather and the chance for a significant winter storm in the south. Sure, they have occurred in La Nina years 1996 and 2010 are good examples. But a Moderate to strong El Nino like 1997, 2009, 2014/2015 and the current one tend to pull colder air down. In addition, the jet stream is on a more southerly track. When cold air is in place and you have an active storm track it sets the stage for a winter storm like the one us meteorologists are expecting.

In summary, due to reasons I mentioned above the expected winter storm could be historic. Conditions are also primed for this storm to be a severe winter storm in a region that this usually does not occur in.

Awe, I wish I was getting hit by that winter storm, I'd be fine without power, just not more than 1 day, I need to get my goal, so...

I though that I was going to get 10 inches of snow, but I got only 2.

well regardless make sure you conserve some electricity because like I said in the How's the Weather thread, Alberta got an Emergency Alert because the Power Grids were suffering

I did my part to conserve energy. I lowered my thermostat to 68. I'm hot natured so I do not need lots of heat. I also did not use electricity unless needed. My area is not used to winter storms like this let along very cold temperatures. Today we got down to 0 degrees some places saw -3 degrees.