The storm system has already struck a broad segment of the South, leaving close to 11 inches of snow in Lubbock, Texas.
On Sunday morning, the National Weather Service said snowfall in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic was likely to continue through Sunday night as part of a “high-impact winter storm.” The Weather Service said the storm would stretch from northeastern Georgia to central Virginia.
“Snowfall amounts in some locations will likely exceed a foot and result in several days of difficult or impossible travel, extended power outages and downed trees,” it said.
Sleet, freezing rain and icy roads were expected across much of the area affected by the storm.
Duke Energy projected that the storm would result in about 500,000 power failures in North and South Carolina. In some cases, it said, the loss of electricity would last for several days.
On Sunday morning, airlines flying into and out of Charlotte Douglas International Airport had reported more than 1,100 cancellations, according to FlightAware, a flight-tracking website. Raleigh-Durham International Airport was reporting more than 200 cancellations.
Amtrak also canceled or altered service on a number of trains through Tuesday.
Emergency responders were in a state of readiness and urging residents to stay home.
Gov. Ralph Northam of Virginia declared a state of emergency Saturday. “Virginians should take all necessary precautions to ensure they are prepared for winter weather storm impacts,” he said.
In Lubbock, authorities warned that some of the 10.5 inches of snow that fell in parts of the city would melt and then refreeze. The city reported more than 60 crashes Saturday night.
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.