More than half of the United States is about to face the most extensive and threatening winter storm in years. There is a risk of historic damage from snow and ice.
The long-lasting storm began Friday and by the end of Monday will have dumped more than a foot of snow and devastating amounts of ice along a 1,500-mile path from Texas to the Northeast.
Major cities in the Northeast, such as New York and Philadelphia, could see the most snow in at least four years, while major cities in the South are suffering from worrying amounts of ice.
More than 120 million people in 20 states are under winter storm warnings, and that number is expected to rise Thursday.
Major traffic disruptions are expected on roads and airports throughout the storm’s impact area, and the ice storm could also cause widespread and prolonged power outages, especially in the south.
The extreme cold on record will only exacerbate the storm and its impacts by accelerating the accumulation of snow and ice on roads, making it difficult to treat, and potentially leaving power-out roads shivering without heat for days.
Areas seeing significant amounts of snow and ice could experience travel and power outage effects that will last at least into early next week.
Here’s the latest information on the storm:
The storm’s path has become more defined and has moved northward over the past few days.
This change has brought heavy snow to more parts of the Midwest and Northeast, while still providing destructive ice to much of the South.
Its path could still change slightly, which could dramatically affect the exact amount of freezing rain, sleet, and snow each region receives.
“Even small changes can lead to large changes in local impacts,” the Weather Prediction Center said.
❄️Winter Storm Update❄️
Here’s the latest information on the impending winter storm expected to begin in the south-central United States on Friday. Confidence continues to grow that ice buildup is causing damage across the South. Preparations should be completed as soon as possible. pic.twitter.com/hv4NeUhM1V
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) January 22, 2026
It all begins Friday on the Plains, where a huge pool of the storm’s moist air begins to collide with arctic air. Over the weekend, frigid temperatures will affect the east and northeast of the storm, which will span more than 24 states from the Plains to the south and northeast.
The storm is expected to finally leave New England by late Monday, after bringing more snow and strong winds across the region and further disrupting travel.
Ice damage from freezing rain is the storm’s most serious threat.
Freezing rain causes ice to build up on the surface, which can cause trees and power lines to topple over due to their enormous added weight. In the storm’s worst-case scenario, the amount of ice could cause numerous power outages, some of which could last for a long time. However, power outages are expected even in the most likely scenario.
According to current forecasts, parts of the South from north and east Texas to the lower Mississippi River and Tennessee Valley, northern Georgia, and parts of the Carolinas and Virginia are at greatest risk of severe ice formation and power outages. This includes major cities such as Dallas-Fort Worth, Shreveport, Louisiana, Memphis, Tennessee, Huntsville, Alabama, and Charlotte, North Carolina.
Ice may also hit parts of metro Atlanta, but it’s more uncertain as cold air from the north battles an influx of warm air from the south.
Even with low ice levels, travel could be suspended in major cities.
Heavy snow will accumulate across a wide area north of the storm belt.
Snow totals are expected to range from 6 inches to 12 inches in parts of more than a dozen states, from Oklahoma and Kansas through the mid-Mississippi and Ohio valleys to the mid-Atlantic coast and Northeast. Some people could see more than a foot of snow.
Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahoma, Louisville, Kentucky, Washington DC, and New York City are all in this snow belt. In some places, snow can fall at a rate of more than an inch per hour.
Tulsa could see a foot of snow for the first time in about 15 years. If Paducah, Kentucky, gets a foot of snow, it will be the first time since March 2015.
New York City and Philadelphia could experience a snowstorm of 6 inches or more for the first time in nearly four years.
The southern edge of the Plains, Midwest, and Southern snow belts could see a mix of sleet and freezing rain, complicating the forecast and reducing certainty of potential snow amounts. Snow could be followed by a mix of sleet and freezing rain along parts of Interstate 95 from Washington, D.C., to New York City.
At least five states had declared states of emergency ahead of the storm: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Arkansas and Virginia.
This order helps free up and mobilize resources for storm response and preparedness.
“To help emergency responders do their jobs safely and effectively, I encourage all North Carolinians to stay home and stay off the road this weekend unless absolutely necessary,” North Carolina Governor Josh Stein said in a news release. North Carolina officials warned that the storm could affect all roads in the state.
“In some locations, we are experiencing winter weather the likes of which we have not seen in years,” the North Carolina Department of Transportation said. Daniel Johnson said. “We are paying full attention to the storm.”
Crews were out working on roads and bridges across North Carolina, Arkansas and Texas, but officials warned that the effects were likely to linger into next week.
Gov. Brian Kemp said Thursday the long-term nature of Georgia’s state of emergency, which will last seven days in conjunction with the impending winter storm. Kemp said he has authorized the call up of 500 National Guard troops to be on standby if needed. The Georgia Department of Transportation will begin treating roads early Saturday morning.
“Use this time to stock up on food, fill up on gas, and prepare for potential power outages,” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said Wednesday.
In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott activated the state’s emergency response resources on Tuesday to prepare roads, personnel and equipment ahead of the storm. The agency will also monitor electric and natural gas companies.
The intrusion of arctic cold that is responsible for this winter storm is expected to reach the Midwest and Plains Thursday into Friday and spread into the South and East by the end of this week. Dozens of locations are likely to break daily high and low temperature records, especially this weekend and early next week.
Temperatures in many parts of the Midwest and Plains are expected to be more than 30 degrees below average by Friday. This is important because in many areas east of the Rocky Mountains, average temperatures are already at their lowest levels in mid-to-late January.
The worst of the cold wave will hit parts of the South on Saturday, while also spreading into the Northeast, where thermometers are expected to drop 20 to 40 degrees below average.
Dallas-Fort Worth hit record lows Sunday and Monday morning, and could bottom out in the single digits on Monday. Similar conditions are possible in Shreveport, Louisiana, on Monday and Tuesday morning as lows dip into the teens.
