Schools and cities from Texas to Georgia are shutting down in anticipation of freezing rain and snow forecast for much of the Southern U.S. The severe weather is expected across a stretch from New Mexico to Alabama starting Wednesday night and early Thursday.

An area stretching from Texas to Tennessee is bracing for the expected arrival of freezing rain and snow, as some other parts of the country that already received an arctic blast this week are preparing to go another round with the plunging polar vortex.