Wednesday the storm system hit parts of Alabama with as much as 11 inches of snow accumulation. Other parts of Alabama and Mississippi received significant snowfall for the region with snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour Wednesday evening.
In advance of Remus, at least four states — Alabama, Georgia and the Carolinas — declared states of emergency.
(FORECAST: Winter Storm Remus)
Remus comes on the heels of Winter Storm Quantum, which left the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex a sheet of ice Monday and caused accidents on snow-slicked roads during Tuesday’s morning commute from north Georgia into North Carolina.
"Snow or ice in the South is not uncommon during the winter, particularly in January and February. Many cities such as Dallas, Atlanta and Charlotte average about two days with measurable snow each winter," said weather.com meteorologist Chris Dolce. "However, what makes Winter Storm Remus unique is the fact that it's the fourth winter storm since early last week to affect parts of the region with snow and ice. We had Octavia and Pandora last week, followed by Quantum at the beginning of this week."
Flights have been impacted as well. More than 1,700 domestic flights were canceled Wednesday, along with hundreds on Thursday, according to FlightAware. More than 2,600 flights were delayed over the two-day period.
Here's the latest on the storm:
Alabama
Gov. Robert Bentley declared a state of emergency Wednesday, allowing state and local agencies to better coordinate their response.The National Weather Service in Huntsville issued a local area emergency in 10 northern Alabama counties, as roads in the area became increasingly treacherous throughout the day Wednesday. Wednesday night, roads were all but impassable because of heavy snow, according to local reports.
In Marion County in northwest Alabama, at least one person was injured when a tree fell on a mobile home, the National Weather Service reported Wednesday.
As the snow began to fall in the region earlier in the day, it didn't take long for roads to get hazardous. According to the National Weather Service in Birmingham, many roadways, including some major highways, were impassable Wednesday afternoon.
The Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority canceled bus and paratransit services on Wednesday. Wednesday night, no update had been made on Thursday's service.
Schools in central and northern Alabama, including Birmingham City Schools, closed Wednesday, AL.com reports. The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa canceled classes starting at 8 a.m. Alabama A&M University north of Huntsville also announced classes are canceled Wednesday.
Many schools in the state have announced closures for Thursday as well. Click here for the latest list.
Arkansas
Snow changed to rain over most of Arkansas Wednesday night. Some parts of the state have reported snow accumulations of up to 3 inches.In advance of the storm, some school districts canceled Wednesday classes with many more closings and delayed reported for Thursday, as well. Click here for a complete list.
(MORE: How Rare Is a Southern Snowstorm?)
Gov. Asa Hutchinson closed state offices in the Little Rock area at noon Wednesday, The Associated Press reported. Workers outside the area were urged to check with their supervisors on leaving early, the report added.
Georgia
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal placed some 50 counties under a state of emergency that began at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Deal also told agency leaders in the impacted areas to close offices, as well as Capitol Hill, at noon.During a Wednesday morning press conference, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed asked local businesses to release all employees no later than 4 p.m. to give them a chance to get home safely.
"Be where you're going to need to be by 4 p.m. today," Reed said.
Snow began to fall Wednesday afternoon. Many school districts across the area closed their doors well ahead of any wintry precipitation. Schools in Carroll, Cherokee, Cobb, Fayette, Fulton, Paulding, Clayton, Dekalb, Forsyth and Gwinnett counties announced their closures Tuesday. Get a full list here.
(MORE: Another Cold Blast Coming for Parts of the Country)
Colleges and universities didn’t take chances, either. Georgia Tech, Georgia State, Morehouse College and Kennesaw State University — all in metro Atlanta — canceled classes Wednesday. The University of Georgia closed at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. Buses and vans will operated until 2:30 p.m. No night or overnight services ran.
The state had planned to execute Kelly Renee Gissendaner – Georgia's only female death-row inmate – on Wednesday, but it was rescheduled because of the winter weather, the AP reported. Records show it's the first time an execution has been delayed due to weather in the state.
Louisiana
Light freezing rain glazed trees and other above-ground objects in the Shreveport area early Wednesday. The freezing rain later turned to wet snow in the city of Shreveport. The city picked up 2 inches of snow in just 2 hours on Wednesday; the top snow total in the region was 4 inches.Many schools districts throughout the state are reporting closures for Thursday, including the University of Louisiana, Monroe, myarklamiss.com reported.
Mississippi
Wednesday morning, a 2-year-old girl was killed when the car she was riding in hydroplaned on slick roads and crashed, MSNewsNow.com reported. A state trooper on the scene urged local motorists to drive with caution during Remus.Local officials in parts of Mississippi Wednesday night reported trees and power lines down with multiple weather-related traffic accidents.
Conditions worsened across northern Mississippi Wednesday morning and afternoon as freezing rain and snow fell across a wide swath of the state. In several northern Mississippi counties, officials said roadways were becoming impassable Wednesday afternoon, especially roads with hills. Despite surface temperatures holding a few degrees above freezing, ice accumulating in trees and power lines triggered power outages in Madison and Hinds counties, among other locations in the state.
Crews prepared for tomorrow AM #mswx forecasts. Sign up for MDOTtraffic alerts for updates: http://ow.ly/JBZrg
North Carolina
Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Pat McCrory declared a state of emergency for all of North Carolina, as the state is expected to see some of Remus's worst. Accumulations between 8 and 12 inches could occur overnight Wednesday into Thursday. Poor travel conditions are likely throughout the morning Thursday."Once the storm begins and the snow starts to accumulate, crews will begin applying salt," said Mark Mueller, spokesman for the North Carolina Department of Transportation, in an interview with The Weather Channel Wednesday. "In my opinion, the biggest concern is the black ice."
Charolotte-Meckenbeug Schools will be closed Thursday, as will many other schools throughout the state. Stay updated here.
Wednesday, schools in Durham, Wake, Johnston, Franklin, Chatham and Harnett counties closed. Orange County schools operated on a three-hour delay. Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools started two hours later than normal.
South Carolina
Early Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Nikki Haley declared a state of emergency for South Carolina as the state prepared for Remus's impacts.The emergency declaration is in effect for 31 counties in the Upstate, and Haley has urged everyone in the Upstate to leave work by 5 p.m. Wednesday and get home, the AP reported.
Texas
Dallas-Forth Worth saw its second snowfall in three days Wednesday. Parts of the metro picked up 1.5 inches of snow and sleet accumulation.Two adults and a student sustained minor injuries when a school minibus overturned on an icy North Texas road, according to AP. The Manfield Independent School District bus was found on its side by Grand Prairie police Wednesday morning and determined road conditions were a factor, the report added.
The driver, another adult and a 6-year-old were aboard the bus when it crashed, and all were wearing seat belts, Officer Lyle Gensler told AP.
Greg Diamond @gdimeweather Follow
Looks like @NWSFortWorth had it's first weather balloon brought down due to ice. Still waiting on the results of the second launch
Some light accumulations of freezing rain (around 0.1 inch) coated trees and other elevated objects in Marshall and Longview, according to National Weather Service reports.
MORE: Winter Storm Remus in Photos
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