At a Glance

Accumulating ice is forecast in parts of the Southeast Sunday.Strong winds during the storm could compound the threat of power outages and downed trees.Cold air behind the storm could leave roads icy until Monday afternoon.Those in the ice threat should prepare for power outages that could last hours.

Winter Storm Izzy will produce not only accumulating ice but also strong winds that will compound the threat of power outages and downed trees in parts of the Southeast.

This latest winter storm will blanket parts of the South and East with snow through the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Travel will be challenging if not impossible during and shortly after the storm in some of these areas. In parts of the Southeast, power outages and tree damage are expected during the storm.

(MORE: Latest, Complete Winter Storm Izzy Forecast)

Accumulating Ice Not Just a Road Concern

Freezing rain into Sunday afternoon or evening from parts of northern Georgia into northern South Carolina, central North Carolina and central Virginia and parts of West Virginia is expected to produce enough ice accumulation to slicken most roads, particularly untreated roads, bridges and overpasses.

From northern South Carolina into central North Carolina and south-central Virginia, ice will likely become thick enough that branches may break and powerlines will get weighed down significantly.

Chance of at Least 0.1 Inches of Ice Accumulation

(The areas in darker pink and purple shadings have the greatest chance of seeing significant icing. )

As a general rule of thumb, once ice accumulations reach about a quarter-inch, the weight of the ice on tree limbs and power lines can cause them to sag or snap, leading to increased tree damage and power outages.

(MORE: What Ice Storm Accumulations Mean)

So areas in the darker colors in the map above have a higher chance of those more damaging ice accumulations during the storm Sunday.

Winds Compound the Problem

The storm will also generate strong winds in the same area where accumulating ice is forecast.

The force of these winds will add to the stress on ice-laden trees and power lines, leading to more downed trees and power outages than otherwise would happen with much lighter winds.

The strongest winds are expected in the ice zone through early Sunday afternoon.

However, gusty winds may linger Sunday night into Monday morning after the storm's precipitation ends.

Wind Forecast

(The stronger forecast winds are shown in the darker blue, purple and red contours for the time specified.)

Lingering Cold

Another concern is the cold behind the storm.

Lows Monday morning are expected to plunge below freezing. That will keep many roads hazardous, possibly impassable, through at least early Monday morning.

We expect temperatures to rise above freezing later Monday morning, which should allow for several hours of thawing through the afternoon. But temperatures will plunge below freezing again Monday night into early Tuesday morning, which could lead to a refreezing of any water on roads.

With daytime highs in the 40s at the warmest through Tuesday, the lingering cold is also a concern for those who lose power. We have a comprehensive list of steps to take to help you.

The bottom line is if you live in the areas of ice threat in the first map above, plan now for the potential of a power outage that could last at least several hours.

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