( CNN ) -- A deadly winter storm that began in Southern California and stretches to Texas threatens to wreck Thanksgiving week travel plans all the way to the Atlantic . At least six people have lost their lives in traffic crashes blamed on the storm system since late last week . An arctic air mass is expected to keep temperatures 15 to 20 degrees below normal along the East Coast through Thursday . Even if the system fails to deliver heavy snow , it could cause air travel disruptions with high winds , forecasters say . Airlines flying in and out of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport `` pre-canceled about 300 departures to reduce the number of stranded travelers '' Sunday in `` anticipation of winter precipitation , '' the airport 's official Twitter account said . Ten percent of flights at Oklahoma City 's Will Rogers World Airport were also canceled due to the weather Sunday . Three travelers died in a multi-vehicle crash on icy Interstate 40 in northwest Texas late Friday , Texas State Trooper Chris Ray said . The dead included a person who got out of his vehicle to render aid and was struck , Ray said . Anther 11 people were injured in the crash , some critically . At least 20 people were taken to local hospitals from collisions within three miles of the fatal pileup , according to Oldham County , Texas , Sheriff David Medlin . `` We have about 4 inches of snow on the ground , '' Medlin told CNN on Sunday . `` Road conditions are still dangerous , and people should drive cautiously and avoid roads unless absolutely needed . '' A 4-year-old girl was killed Friday when a car carrying her slid off icy U.S. Highway 70 in New Mexico , said the state Department of Public Safety . The child was not properly restrained , the department said . Also in New Mexico , a woman in her 50s died Saturday when the pickup truck that she was riding in rear-ended a semi-truck during heavy traffic near Gallup , New Mexico State Police said . In Yuba County , California , a 52-year-old passenger in a car died when a tree fell on top of the vehicle Thursday , the county sheriff 's office said . Ice is blamed for causing Willie Nelson 's band bus to spin out of control and crash into a bridge pillar on Interstate 30 near Sulphur Springs , Texas , early Saturday . Three of the five members of Nelson 's band were hurt , according to police and the band . Nelson was not on board . Flood threat in Arizona . Lingering rain prolonged the flood threat in Arizona , the National Weather Service said . Friday 's 1.6 inches of rain in Phoenix made it the second wettest November day ever recorded in the desert city . Lighter amounts fell Saturday , but drainage areas already were full . In New Mexico and West Texas , snow and ice covered Interstate 10 . The highway was open through Texas , but officials urged caution , especially on bridges . New Mexico could see up to 8 inches of snow accumulating through Monday . Storm will reach Carolinas by Monday . On Sunday , the forecast for northern Texas and parts of Oklahoma called for rain and sleet , and some spots were expected to get up to 4 inches of snow . Rain and sleet will extend through Dallas and into northern Louisiana . `` Tomorrow is going to be the big event . After midnight , it 's going to be so close to freezing , that 's when we 're anticipating it to be bad , '' Sgt . Lonny Haschel with the Texas Department of Public Safety said Sunday . Rain is expected to stretch from Texas to Georgia on Monday and to the Carolinas on Monday night , with sleet and snow in northern parts of that swath . The heaviest rain is expected across parts of Mississippi , Alabama , Georgia , Florida and South Carolina . By Tuesday , the rain will reach the mid-Atlantic states and parts of the Northeast . Freezing rain could develop in the southern and central Appalachians . Travel delays next week in Northeast . Rain , wind and possibly snow will cause travel delays beginning as early as Tuesday in the East , said CNN meteorologist Melissa Le Fevre . `` We are going to see delays , '' Le Fevre said . `` We 're just waiting to see if the impacts are going to be severe or just annoying . '' The deciding factor will be whether a low-pressure system moving north out of the Gulf of Mexico travels inland or close to the East Coast , she said . According to AAA projections , 43.4 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend this year . Fewer people traveling for Thanksgiving . CNN 's Karen Maginnis , Judson Jones , Joe Sutton , Nick Valencia and Janet DiGiacomo contributed to this report .
NEW : New Mexico authorities report a second weather - related death . Three die on an icy northwest Texas road ; 11 are injured . Fall of snow triggers flight cancellations at Dallas / Fort Worth International Airport . Eastern U.S. can expect significant travel delays .