Snow will turn into sleet and freezing rain along parts of the Southeast, as well as southern Arkansas, the weather service reported. Forecasters warn that icy conditions, between a tenth and a quarter inch of ice, will make travel dangerous for many. Power outages and downed branches are also a concern.

Twenty states, from Texas to Delaware, were on alert Friday for snow and ice as the storm continued to move across the South.

Brutal cold will open the door for a winter storm to take a somewhat unusual track through the South and create treacherous conditions.