A winter storm left 2 to 4 inches of snow in parts of Mississippi Thursday, but the snow is expected to melt off quickly as temperatures rise into the upper 40s.

The winter weather is headed east toward Alabama, with the system expected to spread across northern Georgia and into the Washington, D.C. area. Winter storm warnings are in effect for parts of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee. The mountains of North Carolina could see as much as eight inches of snow. About one to three inches is expected in the Washington area and parts of Maryland.

In both Mississippi and Alabama, some schools opened late because of concerns about slick roads.