An upper level storm system will be digging south-southeastward out of Colorado and into eastern Texas during the next 24-hours. You can see the storm system spinning on this water vapor image.
As it digs into New Mexico today snow will continue. Already seeing reports this afternoon across much of northeast New Mexico. However, as the storm slides southward the snow will intensify south of I-40 in southeastern Texas. Snowfall of 2”-4” will be possible mainly east of I-25 from Truth or Consequences to Roswell to Carlsbad and east-southeastward into Texas. A winter weather advisory is in effect for eastern New Mexico southward in extreme western Texas for tonight. Here is a look along US 54 north of El Paso. 
This storm system will shift to the east through Texas on Friday and as it moves closer to the Gulf coast will tap into Gulf moisture and help to develop a surface low over the northwest Gulf. As the storm tracks eastward through Texas some light snow may spread further east through central Texas and may impact travel in cities such as Austin and San Antonio. As the low develops off the Gulf Coast it will allow enhancement of the precipitation shield and this will allow rain to begin developing across southeast Texas on Friday morning. At the same time, cold air will continue to sink southward into southeast Texas and Louisiana. This will allow rain to mix with and change over to sleet by late afternoon and then to all snow during the evening hours from Victoria to Houston to Beaumont. Some accumulation of snow and sleet is possible. Right now I would forecast a half to 1”. Higher accumulations are likely further northeast into Louisiana. Here is an image from the Houston area. Click on the image and it will take you to a link with several regional cams for you to view in the region.
The surface low and upper level system will likely to work together to produce the heaviest precipitation from southern Louisiana to central Mississippi. Mix in the cold air and night time darkness and the output points to accumulating snow from Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Jackson, Mississippi, Friday night into early Saturday morning. How much accumulation still remains a bit in question as there are differences still in the models and no real consensus is showing up just quite yet. Accumulation and exact location of it is strongly dependent on the overall strength of the upper system as it spins through and the proximity of the surface low in the Gulf. At this time I am leaning towards a 1” to 3” band of snow from Lake Charles-Baton Rouge-Natchez-Jackson. Here is a look from Baton Rouge.
As Friday night continues, the moisture stream to continue east-northeastward. However, the main surface low will track across the north-central Gulf into the northern Florida peninsula as it turns to the northeast. A bit of a lull in the snow may occur across northeast Mississippi through northern Alabama as the main surge of moisture tracks eastward with the surface wave. A few snow showers/flurries will be possible, though, as direct response to the upper level system. If the surface low would track further to the north then this system may become more of an issue for northern Alabama.
The upper level system and surface low will unite and work together again delivering more accumulating snow along the eastern slopes of the Appalachians from North Carolina into southwest Virginia and then northeastward towards the Washington D.C. metro area on Saturday into early Sunday. As mentioned earlier, track of the systems makes a big difference on who sees snow and who doesn’t. Stay tuned for further updates or follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/dopplerdalwx
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