Live updates: Extreme winter storm developing, threatening 35+ states with heavy snow, crippling ice
FOX Weather is tracking a winter storm brewing right now that will deliver a one-two punch of wintry weather and life-threatening frigid air from America's Heartland to the East Coast.
A dangerous winter storm is taking shape that will slam 35+ states and 200 million Americans with snow and ice.
200 million Americans are facing one of the worst winter storms to hit the United States in years. More than a foot of snow is expected to bury some states, while freezing rain and sleet could grind travel to a halt and knock out power to thousands of people. This massive winter storm will start its 2,000+ mile journey on Friday in the Plains, reaching America's East Coast by Sunday. Cities such as New York, Washington, Atlanta, and Dallas are gearing up for what is expected to be an extreme winter storm that will deliver a one-two punch of snow/ice and then life-threatening cold air across the nation.
Winter Storm Watches are in effect for most of the Mid-Atlantic and parts of the Northeast.
Winter weather alerts now span nearly 2,000 miles across America from Arizona to New York. The National Weather Service has issued Winter Storm Watches for portions of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, including Washington and Philadelphia, starting Saturday. The watch means hazardous winter weather is expected and now is the time to prepare.
New York and Boston are not under any weather alert at this time, but we expect that to change later today as confidence increases in the threat to these areas.
A coastal low will play a key role in determining how much snow will fall in the Northeast.
Anyone claiming they know exactly how much snow will fall in places like New York and Boston this weekend is lying. Even the best meteorologists using the most sophisticated forecast models and Artificial Intelligence technology would tell you the forecast isn't locked in yet. We are still a few days out from this dynamic winter storm even reaching the East Coast and there are some key pieces of the puzzle that must be resolved.
In the past 48 hours, the trend has indeed been upwards for snow amounts along I-95 in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Once the storm shifts from the Plains to the East Coast, it will trigger a coastal low to form and it's that low that will fuel intense snow in major cities along I-95. There remains some uncertainty as to how strong the low will actually get, when it will form, and how long it will stay close to the coast. FOX Weather meteorologists are analyzing new forecast data every few hours to provide the most accurate and reliable snow forecast. Bottom line: the threat for more than a foot of snow in the Northeast is increasing.
Travel trouble is expected across 35 states this weekend as snow and ice pile up - and it's not just the roads that will get slick. Airports in the path of the winter storm are preparing now, readying snow removal equipment and deicing trucks to keep planes moving. But the storm will inevitably slow down operations at dozens of major hubs from the Heartland to the East Coast, forcing airlines to adjust schedules and cancel flights.
Right now, FlightAware shows only a dozen flight cancellations across the U.S. for Friday. That number is expected to go up as forecasters finalize snow and ice forecasts today. Most major airlines have already issued travel waivers ahead of the storm, eliminating change fees for those affected by flight disruptions. If you are traveling this weekend, now is the time to prepare a backup plan in case your flight is canceled.
Latest ice forecast for the Ark-La-Tex region showing where significant freezing rain is likely.
FOX Weather meteorologists are growing increasingly concerned with freezing rain and ice building up across Texas into Arkansas and Mississippi. It only takes a few hundredths of an inch of ice to make roads slick and the latest forecast shows more than a half inch of ice could accumulate in these areas. That much ice is heavy enough to weigh down trees, breaking off branches, and taking down power lines. Travel is expected to become treacherous in these areas and power outages could last for days.
Latest snow forecast for the Central and Southern Plains of the United States.
Meteorologists in the FOX Forecast Center say this could be one of the worst snowstorms to hit the Plains in a decade. With more than a foot of snow expected to pile up across Oklahoma and Kansas, records may even be broken. Right now, the worst snow is expected between Interstate 70 and Interstate 40. The snow begins on Friday and is expected to wind down early Sunday.
Exclusive FOX Weather Model shows showers popping up across Texas on Friday morning.
Friday morning will start with plain old rain falling in Texas, but as colder air sweeps in through the morning, that rain will begin to change over to freezing rain, sleet, and snow. The exclusive FOX Weather Model shows just that: showers across Texas early in the morning with temperatures in the 40s, 50s, and 60s. By afternoon, conditions will deteriorate rapidly as that colder air arrives and the rain changes to a wintry mix.
FOX Weather is deploying a team of meteorologists and correspondents across America for the winter storm.
FOX Weather is providing LIVE, around-the-clock coverage of the extreme winter storm. With more than 20 crews deploying into the storm, this is the place for the most comprehensive storm coverage. Our team of meteorologists and correspondents will be Weathering It Together with you, reporting on the latest LIVE developments as the storm unfolds.
America's heavily-traveled I-95 corridor could see more than a foot of snow through Monday.
Millions of Americans living in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast could see one of the biggest snowstorms in years this weekend. The latest forecast from the FOX Forecast Center shows 10+ states could see more than a foot of snow, including New York, Boston, and Philadelphia. Anyone living along the I-95 corridor should pay close attention to the forecast in the next 48 hours. With the storm just beginning to form in the West, the forecast snow amounts are subject to change as forecasters see how the storm evolves.
Updated snow forecast map shows heavy snow spanning from the Heartland to the Northeast.
The FOX Forecast Center just put out an updated snow forecast for the developing winter storm. No major shifts in the overall storm track have been observed in the overnight forecast data, so there are no significant changes in this updated forecast. However, it does show increasing confidence that a major snowstorm will bury parts of the Northeast and I-95 corridor in more than a foot of snow from Sunday into Monday.
Latest ice forecast from FOX Weather for the Friday to Monday winter storm.
The FOX Forecast Center just released a new ice forecast map for the weekend. It shows no major changes in the overall forecast - significant ice expected to accumulate from Texas to Tennessee and across the Carolinas. What remains to be seen is just how much sleet will mix in with the freezing rain across these areas, which could limit the amount of ice that accumulates.
On Wednesday, both North Carolina Josh Stein and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster declared a State of Emergency in preparation of this weekend's winter storm. With snow and ice expected to coat both states, emergency management officials aren't wasting any time in getting ready.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has issued a Weather Watch from Saturday, January 24 to Tuesday, January 27. ERCOT says the winter storm and expected cold temperatures will result in higher electrical demand and the potential for lower reserves. It says grid conditions are expected to be normal. In a press release, ERCOT says it is monitoring weather conditions closely and will deploy all available tools to manage the grid.
The FOX Forecast Center is finalizing updated snow and ice forecasts based on fresh forecast data from overnight. Minor shifts in the overall storm track will result in snow/ice totals going up or down in some spots. As soon as the new forecasts are available, we'll post them here.
Winter Storm Watches and Warnings span nearly 2,000 miles ahead of the developing winter storm.
More than 133 million Americans are now under some type of winter weather alert. The National Weather Service just issued the first Winter Storm Warnings for the storm across Oklahoma and North Texas. The warning starts at 6 a.m. CT Friday and ends at noon CT on Sunday. NWS Norman is warning that travel may be extremely dangerous and is urging people to stay inside until conditions improve.
Additional warnings are expected to be issued across the Plains states later today.
You can go back and see how the forecast for this winter storm has evolved with our live coverage from Wednesday.
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