Winter Storm Gianna is underway in the South, bringing heavy snow to the Carolinas and parts of Georgia before it pivots offshore and deepens into a powerful bomb cyclone that could bring blizzard conditions to the coasts of North Carolina and Virginia.
We'll be tracking the latest from this winter storm all day, so follow below for the latest updates and refresh the page frequently to reveal new entries.
(MORE:Winter Storm Gianna's Latest Forecast|Maps Tracker Page)
(10:44 a.m. EST) Updated Snowfall Totals
From digital meteorologist Rob Shackelford:
As snowfall continues to pile up across the Southeast, snowfall totals continue to increase. Below are the latest:
Balsam, North Carolina: 9.0 inches
Maggie Valley, North Carolina: 9.0 inches
Cosby, Tennessee: 8.0 inches
Jonesborough, Tennessee: 8.0 inches
Galax City, Virginia: 6.0 inches
(10:30 a.m. EST) Braves Fest Has Been Cancelled
From content writer Toby Adeyemi
The first major Atlanta event to be a casualty to this winter storm is Braves Fest, which is officially canceled. Over 75,000 people had tickets to meet players, get autographs and basically live out their baseball fan dreams this weekend. But the Braves weren't interested in getting news alerts about fans sliding across Interstate 285 trying to get a picture with Ronald Acuna Jr. Smart call — fan safety over everything.
(10:05 a.m. EST) In Tennessee, Snow Is Adding Up Again
Morning Brief reader Terri Babcock sent us this picture from Gray, Tennessee, on the far eastern tip of the state. The snow depth for the area is currently at 5 inches and counting.
This is just one area that's facing a major winter storm for two weekends in a row.
Do you have a photo of the winter storm today to share with other readers?Send me an emailand we may include it on the live blog today.
(09:45 a.m. EST) Travel Conditions Deteriorating Near Columbia, South Carolina
From digital meteorologist Rob Shackelford:
Travel conditions are being impacted along I-77 north, I-26 west and I-20 east traveling out of Columbia.
The city is under a winter storm warning until Sunday morning, where 5-9 inches of snowfall is possible.
Snowfall is accumulating on bridges and overpasses due to bridges freezing first in cold conditions.
(09:25 a.m. EST) How To Shovel Snow Safely
From content writer Toby Adeyemi:
A lot of people getting snowfall this week probably aren't used to having to shovel snow. We have you covered with a few safety tips.
Get it done early. Freshly fallen snow is light and fluffy — way easier to move than that half-melted, refrozen snow that shows up later.
Layer up smart. Multiple layers, but skip cotton as your base since it soaks up sweat and leaves you cold and damp.
Hydrate like it's July. You might not feel thirsty in the cold, but your body's still working — drink water or a sports drink.
Watch for ice. When temps drop back down, that melted snow refreezes into black ice you may not see, so step carefully.
Bottom line: Work smart, stay warm, stay safe.
Use a leafblower. Yes, they aren't just for leaves in this instance! Your back will definitely thank you.
(08:55 a.m. EST) Talk of A Dry Slot, Two Bullseyes?
From senior digital meteorologistJonathan Belles:
If you're trying to look for who will get the most snow, Gianna brings an extra challenge. They may actually be two distinct areas with heavy snow: one near the coast in eastern North Carolina and another one between upstate South Carolina and the southern Appalachians. Of course, mountains being in play always amps the totals there, but there is some meteorology in play, too.
See, winter storms like this one aren't two-dimensional. They're more like ogres with layers.
On the Outer Banks, we'll be watching Gianna's low pressure system crank by Sunday morning, with heavy snow and strong winds. But before that, we'll be watching another low pressure system some 20,000-30,000 feet up, creating its own snow today, closer to the Smoky Mountains.
In between the two, there is expected to be a band of drier air that will limit snowfall, likely in the area of the North Carolina Triangle. You can see it in yellow in the satellite image below.
(08:30 a.m. EST) Snow Has Made It To Charlotte
From content writer Toby Adeyemi:
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Charlotte, North Carolina, is looking like a winter wonderland with their snowfall. It started around 6 a.m. and it's not going anywhere fast! Charlotte can expect up to 8 inches of snow today.
(08:12 a.m. EST) When Will Artemis II Launch?
From managing editorSean Breslin:
With temperatures plunging in Florida this weekend, that has put the launch of NASA's Artemis II rocket in question.
"NASA is targeting Monday, Feb. 2, as the tanking day for the upcoming Artemis II wet dress rehearsal at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida,as a result of weather," according to a release. "With this change, the first potential opportunity to launch is no earlier than Sunday, Feb. 8."
The timeline was changed due to the arctic cold outbreak that could affect hardware capabilities as engineers make final preparations for the launch. Temperatures at Cape Canaveral, Florida, are expected to dip to freezing or colderin each of the next two nights.
When Artemis II launches, it will be the first crewed mission to the moon in more than a half-century.
(07:46 a.m. EST) A Live Camera To Keep An Eye On
From producerCarmen Molina:
Do you want to see Winter Storm Gianna moving through the Carolinas? You can watch it live through the lens of a high-definition live streaming camera in Brevard, North Carolina. The camera can be found atExploreBrevard.com.
(07:31 a.m. EST) See The Snow In North Georgia
From writer Toby Adeyemi:
Blairsville, Georgia, has seen noticeable snowfall since the early morning hours and it's quite the sight. It's also starting to stick to the roads, so if you are leaving your home, please be careful. Snow is expected to continue throughout the day and push southward in the state, including into metro Atlanta.
(07:11 a.m. EST) Snowfall Spreading To North Georgia
From digital meteorologist Rob Shackelford:
Snowfall has begun to move into north Georgia and will continue to spread south into metro Atlanta through the day.
Winter storm warnings are expected to remain until early Sunday for the majority of Georgia. The heaviest snowfall is expected across northeastern Georgia, where widespread totals of 3-6 inches are expected. Isolated totals could even exceed 6 inches.
Gusty winds could make travel very dangerous, so travel is not recommended.
(06:52 a.m. EST) 'Travel Is Not Advised' In Pigeon Forge
There's nothing that screams "Pigeon Forge" more than a Dollywood sign. But this morning, roads in the East Tennessee town were covered in snow, and that's bound to cause problems today.
"Travel is not advised at this time so crewscan safely treat area roads," said the Pigeon Forge Police Department in a Facebook post. "Many roads are slick and unsafe."
The department urged everyone to stay home today if possible. Nearby Gatlinburg has already reported 2.5 inches of snow.
(06:31 a.m. EST) Here's Who Has The Most Snow So Far
According to snow observations from the National Weather Service, several locations in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina saw more than 5 inches of snow yesterday into this morning.
- Near Faust, North Carolina: 6.8 inches
- Bristol, Tennessee: 5.3 inches
- Near Surgoinsville, Tennessee: 5.3 inches
- Liberty, Tennessee: 5 inches
(06:06 a.m. EST) Cold Alerts Map Lit Up Like A Christmas Tree Again ...
... and this doesn't even include the winter storm advisories and warnings. Luckily, meteorologistCaitlin Kaisercompiled everything in a way that makes sense — head over to ourmaps tracker pageto see everything related to this winter storm and cold outbreak.
(05:52 a.m. EST) Gianna Brings A Mess To A Region Already In Bad Shape
This weekend's winter storm will track across some of the same areas hit hard by last weekend's Winter Storm Fern. But luckily, in most of the states hit hardest by Fern — Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana specifically — additional impacts aren't expected from Gianna. That trio of states still has more than 150,000 homes and businesses without power this morning, according toPowerOutage.us.
It has been a very cold, frustrating week for those customers, and a long week for crews who have worked around the clock to restore power and clear tree damage caused by last weekend's ice storm.
(05:30 a.m. EST) Cancellations Mounting At Southern Airports
As we start the morning's coverage, there are already hundreds of flight cancellations at two major hubs in the South. According to the flight-tracking websiteFlightAware, Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International and Charlotte Douglas International are No. 1 and No. 2 in the nation with more than 500 flights canceled into and out of each airport today.
Raleigh-Durham International Airport is a distant third with 120 flights canceled so far. Earlier this week, Hartsfieldled the country in cancellationsdue in part to the ice brought by Winter Storm Fern.