By Harshit
UNITED STATES — JANUARY 24, 2026, 8 AM EDT
A sprawling winter storm is sweeping across the United States, bringing dangerous ice, heavy snow and record-setting cold to a region spanning more than 2,000 miles from Texas to New England. Officials warn the storm could leave hundreds of thousands without power, disrupt travel nationwide and expose millions to life-threatening cold over the coming days.
Storm Expands East as Ice and Snow Intensify
The system intensified overnight across the Plains and has now pushed east of the Mississippi River. Snow is falling from northern Texas through Oklahoma, Kansas, Kentucky and Tennessee, while freezing rain and sleet are creating treacherous conditions across parts of Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana.
In Arkansas, snow and ice have coated nearly the entire state. Transportation officials reported slick roads statewide, with around four inches of snow already recorded in and around Little Rock. Authorities urged residents to stay home where possible as plows work to keep major routes passable.
To the south of the snow zone, freezing rain is glazing roads, trees and power lines, particularly in areas unaccustomed to winter weather.
Catastrophic Ice Threat in the South
Forecasters say the most dangerous impacts may come from crippling ice accumulations across parts of the South. Ice buildup heavy enough to snap power lines and collapse trees is expected, raising the risk of long-lasting outages.
Emergency officials warn that hundreds of thousands of customers could lose electricity, with some outages potentially lasting days. The danger is heightened by the extreme cold arriving behind the storm, which could leave homes without heat during subzero conditions.
Record Cold Locks in the Danger
An Arctic air mass trailing the storm will plunge temperatures well below normal across much of the country. More than half of all Americans are expected to experience subzero wind chills in the coming week.
In areas already buried by snow and ice, the extreme cold will lock hazardous conditions in place, slowing cleanup and power restoration. Officials warn that anyone without heat faces serious risk, especially overnight.
Travel Disruptions Reach Historic Levels
The storm has triggered a major travel breakdown, particularly in air travel.
More than 9,000 flights have already been canceled across Saturday and Sunday. Sunday alone has become the worst single day for flight cancellations in the past year, surpassing previous records by thousands.
Road travel across the storm’s path is expected to be difficult to impossible, especially where freezing rain has created sheets of ice beneath accumulating snow.
States Declare Emergencies as Impacts Mount
At least 16 states and Washington, DC, have declared states of emergency to mobilize resources and speed response efforts. Emergency declarations are in place across large portions of the South, Midwest and Northeast as officials prepare for prolonged impacts.
In many southern communities, residents rushed to stock up on essentials, clearing grocery shelves of water, bread, eggs and medicine, amid warnings they could be stuck at home for several days.
Conditions Likely to Linger
Even after precipitation tapers off, officials caution that recovery will be slow. As temperatures eventually rise, burst pipes, water main breaks and additional infrastructure damage are likely.
Emergency managers stress that the combination of ice damage and extreme cold makes this storm particularly dangerous — not just during its peak, but in the days that follow.