The National Weather Service (NWS) said in a statement the storm system will produce weather threats over parts of the Ohio/Tennessee Valleys and the interior eastern U.S.—going as far south as Georgia—starting on Friday and continuing through Saturday night.

"Heavy rainfall and severe thunderstorms [are expected] to impact the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic this weekend," the service said in the latest update, noting that the greatest snow accumulation is expected across portions of the Northeast, where totals in excess of 12 inches are likely.

Beginning late on Saturday, cold air is expected to spread across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, with temperatures going below freezing along the Gulf Coast and northern Florida. The storm is expected to rapidly strengthen into a bomb cyclone by Saturday.