Over 100 fatalities confirmed after major January 2026 U.S. winter storm
Up to 115 fatalities have been reported across more than 20 states in the U.S. after a historic winter storm swept through the eastern two-thirds of the country between January 24 and 26, 2026. The storm is now the deadliest since the 2021 Texas power crisis, when multiple storms claimed nearly 250 lives across the country, and has surpassed the death toll of the 2022 Buffalo Blizzard of the Century.
Ice covered tree branches in Oxford, Mississippi, on January 25, 2026. Credit: City of Oxford
Over 100 people have been reported dead due to the historic winter storm that swept across the United States from January 24 to 26. While death toll reports vary due to the large spread of fatalities across more than 20 states, estimates range between 108 and 115.
The storm has surpassed the fatality total of the December 2022 North American Blizzard/Buffalo Blizzard of the Century, which had claimed around 106 lives across the U.S. It is now the deadliest winter storm to hit the U.S. since the 2021 Texas Power Crisis, which had resulted in nearly 250 casualties.
New York has reported the highest casualties so far, with 15 people being reported dead in New York City and Long Island. Meanwhile, the Tennessee Department of Military reported 14 fatalities across eight counties.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed that there were at least 10 fatalities due to storm-related incidents over the weekend, while one person was reported dead due to hypothermia in Jefferson County on January 28.
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves reported at least 10 fatalities across the state, while nine fatalities were reported in both Texas and Indiana, each including children.
The Frisco Police Department in Texas said they responded to the area of Majestic Gardens Drive and Killian Court around 14:26 local time for a reported accident. They found two 16-year-old girls with life-threatening injuries. They were both transported to the hospital, where one died, and the other girl remains in critical condition, according to the police department.
Investigators believe a 16-year-old boy was driving a Jeep Wrangler while pulling the two girls on a sled. Witnesses told police that the sled struck a curb and then collided with a tree.
Three young brothers in North Texas drowned after falling through ice on a private pond near Bonham. The boys, all under 10 years old, were not publicly named by the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office.
Six people died when a business jet crashed during takeoff as a snowstorm moved in and visibility diminished in Maine on Sunday night.
The Bombardier Challenger 600 flipped over and burned during takeoff at Bangor International Airport around 19:45 LT on the night of January 25 as the winter storm began to reach the area.
At least two people were reported dead in Montreal, Canada, due to the storm.
The storm developed over the central United States on January 23 and moved eastward toward the Atlantic Coast by January 26, producing heavy snow, extensive ice accumulation, and widespread travel disruption. According to the Weather Prediction Center, the system’s coastal low reached a minimum central pressure of 996 hPa south of Cape Cod at 03:00 EST (08:00 UTC) on January 26 before moving offshore.
Little Rock recorded 15.2 cm (6 inches) of snow by the morning of January 24, shattering the previous daily record for snowfall of 10.2 cm (4 inches) set in 1899. This record is yet to be confirmed by the NWS office in Little Rock, which confirmed a daily snowfall record of 19.8 cm (7.8 inches) set at North Little Rock on January 24, the highest snowfall total on record for that day.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma City recorded 11 cm (4.4 inches) of snow on January 24, which broke the previous daily snowfall record set in 1948.
Dayton, Ohio, recorded 31.5 cm (12.4 inches) on January 25. This was a new all-time record for the heaviest 24-hour snowfall in the area, according to the NWS office in Wilmington.
The highest measured snowfall totals were observed across southern New England and parts of New York State. In Massachusetts, Middleton recorded 52 cm (20.5 inches), while Holden and Newburyport each reported 51 cm (20 inches). Grafton and Ludlow both measured 48 cm (19 inches). Worcester Regional Airport reported 44 cm (17.5 inches), and Boston measured 42 cm (16.7 inches).
The heaviest sleet accumulations were observed in Arkansas, where Little Rock reported 17 cm (6.7 inches). Searcy measured 16 cm (6.3 inches), and Catholic Point 14 cm (5.5 inches). Louisiana recorded up to 15 cm (6 inches) in Ringgold and 13 cm (5 inches) in Dubach. Mississippi reported 14 cm (5.5 inches) in Marks and 13 cm (5 inches) in Duncan and Senatobia.
In Mississippi, ice storms created life-threatening conditions on January 25, prompting a shelter-in-place order for Oxford.
Around 2.5 million customers experienced power outages across the country, with governors in multiple states, along with Washington, D.C., declaring states of emergency to expedite utility repairs and coordinate disaster response. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and National Guard units were deployed to assist with power restoration and relief operations.
The severe weather caused over a thousand crashes and other traffic-related accidents across the country. Over 12 000 flights were also cancelled between January 23 and 25, and the number had crossed over 20 000 by January 26. This made it the biggest flight disruption event in the United States since the Covid-19 pandemic.
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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