A winter storm that dropped heavy snow and glazed roads throughout the U.S. South was maintaining its icy grip on much of the region into the weekend. Power outage numbers around Atlanta crept up Friday night as meteorologists warned of accumulating freezing rain.

Forecast models are pretty "locked in" regarding storm timing. The weather will be dry east of the mountains until the storm arrives midday Friday. Snow will likely begin sometime between 1 & 4 PM Friday afternoon. Dry arctic air may briefly delay the start of precipitation, but it's expected to overspread the area by Friday afternoon and evening.

Portions of east central, north central, northwest, and south central Kentucky are under a winter storm watch from late Thursday through late Friday night, according to the weather service. Anywhere from 4 to 5 inches of snow are expected to fall, though higher amounts are possible.