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.
We’re about to experience some of the coldest weather Connecticut has had in quite a while, and it cannot be stressed enough that temperatures this low can be fatal if someone is outside for too long.
Governor Ned Lamont has announced that he is activating Connecticut’s Severe Cold Weather Protocol beginning Friday. The state says the protocol is designed to ensure that the most vulnerable populations receive protection from the severe cold.
{{#rendered}}America's most-populated city is now looking at its worst snowstorm in years. The latest forecast from FOX Weather calls for more than a foot of snow to fall in and around the New York City metro area. The snow would grind travel to a halt for millions along I-95.
FOX Weather meteorologists caution that this forecast is subject to change since the storm is still several days away - the snow doesn't even arrive until Sunday. Changes in the track of the storm, the development of the coastal low, and other factors will result in the snow forecast going up or down in the days ahead.
State leaders and emergency management officials across the South are urging people people to prepare for power outages this weekend. With the threat of significant ice accumulating in many areas, power lines may topple and knock out power for thousands of people. And there's growing concern that these outages could last for days. Frigid air will settle in after the storm, preventing any ice from melting, which would make it tough for utility crews to restore power.
{{#rendered}}While all eyes are on the threat for heavy snow and ice in the days ahead, we don't want to forget about the brutally cold air coming in behind the storm. Arctic air will blast the Southeast after the snow and ice ends, lingering for days in many places.
While the finer forecast details become more clear, Atlanta is not out of the woods when it comes to impacts from this weekend's winter storm. The latest ice forecast from the FOX Forecast Center still calls for up to .25" of ice in and around the Atlanta metro and North Georgia. While 1/4 inch of ice doesn't seem like much, just a few hundredths of an inch of ice can turn roads into an ice rink. That ice could also lead to numerous power outages throughout the area.
{{#rendered}}Oklahoma City is bracing for one of its biggest snowstorms on record. The latest forecast from the FOX Forecast Center calls for 8-12" of snow in the OKC metro area through the weekend.
{{#rendered}}I am directing the Department of Emergency Management to coordinate the comprehensive preparation of State government ahead of potential impacts related to the incoming weather system.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore says the safety and security of Maryland residents is his top priority. On Wednesday, the Governor declared a State of Preparedness, which he says enhances the State’s ability to respond swiftly and effectively to potential hazards and threats before escalating response.
{{#rendered}}FOX Weather meteorologists are closely analyzing the atmosphere to determine how this winter storm will pan out across the East. Frigid air will collide will moist, mild air from the south and result in big snow and ice across many states. But forecasters aren't just watching the temperature at the surface - they're looking thousands of feet up for trouble.
Charlotte, NC is just one of the places that could see significant freezing rain and ice from this weekend's storm. And that's thanks to a warm air aloft. The air temperature near the ground, where we all live, will be cold. But just a few thousand feet up, the air temperature will climb above freezing. This layer of warm air from 5,000 to 10,000 feet up is why freezing rain is such a big concern. As snowflakes fall from the clouds, they'll encounter this layer of warm air and melt into raindrops. Those raindrops will then fall to the ground, but freeze immediately into ice as they hit the surface. Only a few hundredths of an inch of ice can turn roads into a mess. This weekend's forecast calls for upwards of .50" of ice -- a recipe for disaster.
New Yorkers will tell you: it's been a minute since the city has seen a big snowstorm. The FOX Forecast Center says the last 12"+ snowstorm in New York was back in 2021. And Washington hasn't seen more than a foot of snow from a single storm in 10 years. With the latest forecast calling for nearly a foot of snow along I-95, these streaks may come to an end in just a matter of days.
{{#rendered}}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.
{{#rendered}}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.
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.
{{#rendered}}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.
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 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.
{{#rendered}}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.
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.
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.
{{#rendered}}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.
{{#rendered}}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.
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.
{{#rendered}}Live Coverage begins here