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 an expected snowstorm even as some other parts of the U.S. hit by the plunging polar vortex this week are beginning to shake off its icy effects.