A winter storm is affecting parts of the southern and central United States, already causing road and school closures due to hazardous weather conditions.
More than 40 million people from southeastern New Mexico to West Virginia are under various forms of winter weather warnings, including warnings of dangerous ice accumulations that are already making roads a nightmare, especially in Texas.
The danger on the roads became even more latent after the Fire Department in Austin, Texas, confirmed Tuesday the death of one person following a 10-car pileup. In Arlington, one person was also confirmed dead on a freeway.
While areas impacted by the storm will see a variety of threats related to cold temperatures (such as snow, sleet or freezing rain), the primary concern is ice.
The winter storm is expected to bring hazardous conditions this Tuesday and Wednesday.
Texas will face widespread icy conditions, with the heaviest accumulation likely arriving this Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning. By Thursday morning, large parts of Texas will have between 6 to 19 millimeters in ice accumulation.
Several Texas cities - including Dallas, San Antonio, San Angelo and Waco - are under winter storm warnings.
Tuesday is expected to be the most difficult day for driving, as Texas bridges and roads will be icy, according to the Fort Worth weather service office. Roads have been closed across the state as emergency crews are deployed to help motorists.