In Atlanta, where public schools were closed, forecasters expect freezing rain and up to three inches of snow starting Friday morning. With the northern half of Georgia under a winter storm warning, Gov. Brian P. Kemp declared a state of emergency on Thursday because of the forecast and said it would be in place through Tuesday.

Snow and icy conditions threatened to paralyze parts of the U.S. South from Texas to Alabama on Thursday, as officials closed schools, canceled or delayed flights and warned residents in some of the worst-hit areas to stay off roads as a winter storm moves east.

Another blast of winter storms is closing schools, snarling flights and putting millions of residents on alert across parts of the Deep South and south-central U.S. The National Weather Service says heavy snowfall and icy conditions are likely Friday in Mississippi,