More than half of the United States is about to face one of the most extensive and threatening winter storms in years, one that threatens to deliver a potentially historic blow of snow and ice.
The long-running storm begins Friday and by the end of the month will drop a foot or more of snow and destructive amounts of ice along its 1,500-mile track from Texas to the northeast.
Major cities in the Northeast, such as New York and Philadelphia, could get the most snow in at least four years, while major cities in the South are dealing with worrying amounts of ice.
More than 120 million people in two dozen states are under a winter storm watch — a number expected to rise Thursday.
Major travel disruption on roads and airports is once across the storm’s footprint, and widespread and potentially long-lasting power outages are also possible, particularly from the ice storm to the south.
The extreme, record-breaking cold will only worsen the storm and its impact, causing snow and ice to accumulate on roads more quickly, making them harder to handle and possibly leaving those who lose power shivering without heat for days.
The impact of travel and power outages could last at least into early next week for areas experiencing significant snow and ice totals.
Here’s the latest on the storm:
Track changes with huge implications
The track of this storm has become clearer and has moved northward over the past two days.
This change involved more of the Midwest and Northeast with heavy snow, still delivering destructive ice across much of the South.
Its track could still shift slightly, and that could affect the exact amounts of freezing rain, sleet, and snow each area receives, with dramatic effects.
“Even small changes could lead to large changes in local impacts,” the Weather Prediction Center said.
It all starts on Friday in the Plains, where the storm’s huge pool of moist air begins to collide with arctic air. Through the weekend, cold temperatures will continue to fuel the storm’s expanding track to the east and northeast, covering more than two dozen states from the Plains to the south and northeast.
The storm will finally exit New England by Monday evening after spreading more snow and strong winds across the region and contributing to even more travel disruptions.
Ice could knock out power for many
Ice damage from freezing rain is the storm’s most serious threat.
Freezing rain causes ice to build up on surfaces, and its tremendous amount of added weight can knock down trees and power lines. The worst-case amount of ice for this storm could cause many power outages, some of which could be long-lasting. But power outages are expected even in the most likely scenario.
Southern portions of northern and eastern Texas into the lower Mississippi and Tennessee valleys, northern Georgia, and parts of the Carolinas and Virginia are at the highest risk of significant freezing and power outages based on the current forecast. These include major cities such as Dallas-Fort Worth, Shreveport, Louisiana, Memphis, Tennessee, Huntsville, Alabama, and Charlotte, North Carolina.
Portions of metro Atlanta could also see impact ice, but that’s more uncertain due to a battle between cold air coming in from the north and a wave of warmer air from the south.
Ice forecast for the south through early Sunday morning. Ice amounts of a quarter inch or more can begin to cause damage to trees and power lines. Totals of half an inch or more cause even more damage. Additional ice will accumulate beyond this period in the southeast. – National Meteorological Service
Travel could be halted in major cities even with smaller amounts of ice.
Heavy snow threat from the Plains to the East Coast
Heavy snow will accumulate over a wide area north of the storm’s freezing rain area.
Snow totals are possible from 6 to 12 inches for parts of more than a dozen states, stretching from Oklahoma and Kansas through the Mid-Mississippi and Ohio Valleys and into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Some 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 zone. In some locations, snow can fall at a rate of an inch or more per hour at times.
Tulsa could see a foot of snow for the first time in nearly 15 years. A foot of snow in Paducah, Kentucky, would be a first there since March 2015.
New York and Philadelphia could see their first snowstorm of 6 inches or more in nearly four years.
The southern edge of the snowpack across the Plains, Midwest and South could mix with sleet or freezing rain, complicating forecasting and making potential snowfall totals less certain. Parts of the I-95 corridor from Washington, DC to New York could also mix in sleet and freezing rain after the snow.
States are preparing for the worst
States of emergency are in effect for at least five states — North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Arkansas and Virginia — ahead of the storm.
The orders help release and mobilize resources to respond and prepare for the storm.
“I encourage all North Carolinians to stay home and off the roads this weekend, unless absolutely necessary, so that first responders can do their jobs safely and effectively,” North Carolina Governor Josh Stein said in a news release. Officials in North Carolina warned that the storm could affect all roads in the state.
“Some locations may see winter weather like they haven’t seen in years,” Sec. North Carolina Transportation. Daniel Johnson said. “The storm has our full attention.”
Crews in North Carolina, Arkansas and Texas were treating roads and bridges, but officials warned impacts were likely to continue into next week.
The long-lasting nature is why Georgia’s state of emergency lasts seven days with the impending winter storm, Gov. Brian Kemp said Thursday. Kemp said he authorized calling up 500 National Guardsmen to stand by as needed. The Georgia Department of Transportation will begin treating the roads early Saturday morning.
“Take this time to secure your food, fill up on gas and make sure you’re prepared for any potential power outages,” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp urged on Wednesday.
Aisles and shelves stand empty as people in Oklahoma City stock up on groceries in preparation for a winter storm on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. – Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman/Images
In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott activated emergency response resources on Tuesday to prepare roads, personnel and equipment ahead of the storm. The agencies will also monitor power and natural gas utilities.
Possibly record cold
The arctic cold invasion that will fuel this winter storm arrives in the Midwest and Plains Thursday through Friday and will then spread south and east this weekend. Dozens of locations could break daily high and low temperature records, especially this weekend into early next week.
Temperatures will be more than 30 degrees below average through Friday across much of the Midwest and Plains. This is significant because in mid-to-late January, average temperatures are already at their lowest for many locations east of the Rocky Mountains.
The worst of the cold will push into parts of the south on Saturday as it spreads into the northeast, plunging thermometers 20 to 40 degrees cooler than average.
Dallas-Fort Worth could hit record lows Sunday and Monday morning, possibly reaching single digits Monday. Shreveport, Louisiana, could do the same Monday and Tuesday morning as they drop into the teens.
CNN Weather
CNN meteorologist Briana Waxman and CNN’s Ella Nilsen contributed to this report.
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