Snow squall warnings were issued for parts of Washington on January 7, 2026 as a severe winter storm brought heavy snowfall across the region, triggering multiple crashes, and prompting road closures.
A pair of cross-country storm systems will affect large parts of the United States through Friday, January 9, 2026, bringing widespread rain, mountain snow, and a risk of severe thunderstorms. Heavy snowfall is forecast for the Cascades and the southern Rockies. Flash floods and severe thunderstorms are forecast across the Lower Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys by the end of the week.
Storm Goretti underwent explosive cyclogenesis, bringing widespread snow, ice, and strong winds across the United Kingdom this week. The storm was named by Meteo France on January 6, 2026. It caused major transport disruption, school closures, and power interruptions across Wales, northern England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The UK Met Office has issued multiple yellow and amber warnings for snow and ice, remaining in effect through January 8, 2026.
Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) forecasts heavy snowfall around January 11–12, 2026, as a strong cold surge moves over Honshu, with warning-level accumulations expected along the Sea of Japan side including Hokuriku and Tohoku. Regional observatories report the potential for five-day snowfall totals exceeding 160 percent of seasonal averages, a rare magnitude for this time of year. This follows the early-January snowstorm that immobilized about 3 000 vehicles over a 23 km (14 miles) stretch of the Sanyō Expressway in western Japan.
A severe winter storm has killed at least six people and disrupted transport across Europe since Monday, January 5, 2026. Heavy snow, freezing rain, and temperatures below −10°C (14°F) caused deadly accidents in France, flight cancellations in Paris and Amsterdam, along with widespread power and travel disruptions.
A major winter storm is affecting the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies, with winter storm warnings in effect through 16:00 PST on Thursday, January 8, 2026. Heavy snow is forecast to continue across the Cascades of Washington and Oregon, extending into Idaho and western Montana. Snow accumulations are forecast to reach between 30 cm and 120 cm (1 to 4 feet), with gusts up to 80 km/h (50 mph) causing whiteout conditions and difficult travel across mountain passes.
Two frontal systems are forecast to bring widespread precipitation and heavy mountain snow to the Pacific Northwest between Tuesday and Thursday, January 6 and 8, 2026. The first, associated with a weakening atmospheric river, will bring rainfall to the region on Tuesday, followed by a second, stronger system on Wednesday and Thursday, January 7–8. Snowfall totals of 30–120 cm (12–48 inches) are expected across the Cascades and Olympic Mountains, with locally higher amounts above 1 500 m (5 000 feet).
Red Flag Warnings are in effect for parts of Colorado, Oklahoma, and the Texas Panhandle through Monday, January 5, 2026. The warnings are valid from mid-morning to late afternoon due to very low relative humidity and gusty winds creating critical fire conditions across the region.
An Arctic cold wave is moving across Europe as a persistent Greenland block redirects polar air southward. Forecast models show temperature anomalies between −10°C and −15°C (14°F and 5°F) at 850 hPa with extensive snow cover developing over much of the continent, with heavy snow already affecting parts of the UK and Balkans at the start of January 2026.
A rare tornado warning was issued for Shelter Cove as high winds downed trees and power lines, leaving nearly 2,000 people without power, and prompted road closures in Humboldt County on Saturday, January 3, 2026.
