Christmas 2017 to January 5, 2018

From JB this morning:

Likely coldest Christmas day for entire nation as a whole since 2000 core of cold will centered over the heartland but spread out west and east
While snow less in west ,prospects for snow before Christmas extend to the gulf coast w of New Orleans east coast Carolinas north IMO

It doesn't go out that far.

Well the 12z GFS came in not so ridiculous. Still cold but not as wet/frozen. It does have the front pushing through on the 23rd with a quick change over to sleet/snow, followed by a cold Christmas Day with temperatures staying in the 30's all day. Then another system moving across the region 2 days later with another chance at frozen precipitation with another push of frigid air, dipping down into the 10's and 20's across Louisiana and Mississippi by the end of the run.

Believe me...I've spent enough winters in Upstate NY to know that an ice storm here would be a disaster.  

If we end up having a major ice storm, you're exactly right. Fireplaces would be the only form of heat output for days. 

I'll have to take out the generator today and test it. For Friday's snow event we were out of power for 2 days and went to the in-laws' house. 

NEVER. AGAIN.