Long-duration power outages and extremely hazardous travel expected as major winter storm spreads from the Southern Plains to the Northeast
The National Weather Service (NWS) warns of locally catastrophic ice accumulation from the Southern Plains to the Southeast as a major winter storm develops and tracks northeastward from January 23 to 26, 2026. The storm is forecast to produce widespread freezing rain, heavy snow, and dangerously cold temperatures, threatening critical infrastructure and travel across much of the eastern United States.
Satellite image of United States at 12:10 UTC on January 23, 2026. Credit: NOAA/GOES, Zoom Earth, The Watchers
- Ice accumulation of more than 25 mm (1 inch) is possible from northern Louisiana and southern Arkansas through Mississippi and western Alabama, leading to long-duration power outages, extensive tree damage, and extremely dangerous or impassable travel conditions.
- Heavy snow exceeding 30 cm (12 inches) is likely from the central Plains through the Midwest and into the Northeast, creating major travel disruptions and dangerous driving conditions.
- Arctic air intrusion following the storm will bring bitterly cold temperatures and wind chills below −20°C (−4°F) across large parts of the central and northern United States, extending hazardous conditions into early next week.
Locally catastrophic ice accumulation is forecast across parts of the Southern Plains and Southeast as a major winter storm develops and tracks northeastward from Friday, January 23 to Monday, January 26. The system is expected to produce a combination of heavy snow, freezing rain, and dangerously cold temperatures from the Southern Rockies and Plains through the Mid-Atlantic and into New England.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS) and its Weather Prediction Center (WPC), the most severe conditions are expected within the freezing rain corridor stretching from northern Louisiana and southern Arkansas through Mississippi and western Alabama.
In these areas, ice accretion may exceed 25 mm (1 inch), described by the NWS as significant to locally catastrophic. This level of ice buildup poses a high risk of prolonged power outages, extensive tree damage, and impassable travel conditions.
Additional accumulations of 6–19 mm (0.25–0.75 inch) are forecast across portions of the Tennessee Valley and southern Appalachians, where freezing rain and sleet could create widespread hazardous glaze.
Farther north, the storm’s cold sector is expected to generate widespread heavy snow from the central Plains through the Midwest and Ohio Valley into the Northeast. Snowfall totals may exceed 30 cm (12 inches) in several areas, including parts of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and interior New York.
Forecast guidance indicates these totals could lead to major travel disruptions and potential closures along major corridors such as I-70, I-80, and I-90.
Behind the main system, an influx of Arctic air is forecast to produce bitterly cold temperatures and dangerous wind chills across the central and northern United States. Wind chills could fall below −20°C (−4°F) across parts of the central Plains, Great Lakes, and Northeast, heightening the risk of frostbite and hypothermia and prolonging restoration efforts in areas affected by heavy icing.
Lake-effect snow is forecast to develop downwind of the Great Lakes from late Friday through Sunday, potentially enhancing accumulations in western and northern New York. In the Southwest, the same upper-level trough is expected to bring rain and mountain snow to parts of Arizona and New Mexico before moving eastward.
The NWS advises communities across the storm’s forecast path to complete preparations before the onset of severe conditions.
The combination of catastrophic ice, heavy snow, and prolonged cold may result in long-duration power outages, extremely hazardous travel, and dangerous exposure conditions extending into early next week.
References:
1 Short Range Forecast Discussion – NOAA/WPC – Issued at 02:14 EST on January 23, 2026
I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
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