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The winter storm Cora is about to bring freezing temperatures, even snow, to parts of the of the south—to many homes that aren’t typically built or prepared for these weather extremes. A low-pressure system developing over the southern High Plains, combined with an arctic air mass colliding with moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, is setting the stage for Cora, the South’s first significant storm of 2025. Texas could see up to 10 inches of snow, while other Southern states like, Kentucky, Tennessee, northern Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina will see a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain.
Sleet, snow, and freezing rain have already started to hit the Southern Plains, and icy roads will make travel hazardous. Cora will spread northeast Thursday and Friday, stretching into Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama. From there, the storm will continue its push north and east, potentially affecting the mid-Atlantic and even the Great Lakes.
The biggest threat from Cora may be freezing rain, which can make driving treacherous and lead to downed power lines and outages. Avoid driving on icy roads and stay home if at all possible.
With 19 southern and midwestern states under winter storm warnings and watches, it’s important to be prepared. The following products will help you keep your home and family safe during Cora and other winter storms. Our test team has reviewed and approved each of these products.
- Pipe Insulation: Check to see if there are any exposed pipes in colder parts of the house—like a crawl space or attic—and wrap with foam pipe insulation.
- Generator: If the electricity goes out, you’ll need a generator powerful enough to run essential appliances and a space heater, such as the Westinghouse WGen9500DF Dual-Fuel Generator, which runs on either gasoline or propane.
- Ice Melt: Slick steps and sidewalks are a recipe for disastrous falls, so stock up now on an eco-friendly, pet-safe ice melt product like Natural Rapport Ice Melt.
- Flashlights: Having one or more strong flashlights is essential–we like the Streamlight 880-40 ProTac for its long-lasting rechargeable battery and bright illumination.
- Portable Power Station: To stay in touch with the outside world during an outage, keep a power station like the Goal Zero Yeti Power Station on hand for charging cellphones, tablets, lights, and other essential devices.
- Propane Heater: If you lose power and you don’t have a generator, you’ll need an alternate way to stay warm. Our top pick is the Mr. Heater Propane Heater, which won’t generate toxic fumes when used indoors. Read our in-depth review of the Mr. Heater.
With the proper preparations and products, you can confidently face winter storm Cora or anything else Mother Nature sends your way.
