A massive multi‑day winter storm is moving across the central and eastern U.S., bringing a dangerous combination of heavy snow, widespread ice and record‑breaking cold to roughly two‑thirds of the country. Utilities and state agencies have mobilized crews and pretreated roads, while governors declared emergencies and schools canceled classes. Authorities warned of up to a foot of snow in parts of the Northeast, crippling ice in parts of the South and wind chills that could reach near minus 50°F — all creating a high risk of prolonged power outages and hazardous travel.
Massive Winter Storm Threatens Two-Thirds of the U.S.; Ice, Heavy Snow and Life‑Threatening Cold Expected
A Nashville Department of Transportation truck applies salt brine to a roadway Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. ahead of a winter storm expected to hit the state over the weekend. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Texas and Oklahoma prepared Friday for heavy snow and a crippling ice threat as the first impacts arrived from a sprawling, multi‑day winter storm forecast to affect roughly two‑thirds of the United States. Officials warned that the system could cause catastrophic damage, widespread power outages and dangerously cold conditions for millions.
Forecast And Immediate Preparations
In the Houston area, a utility company staged about 3,300 employees to respond to outages and damage. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation pretreated highways and interstates with salt brine, and forecasters expected freezing rain and sleet as far west as New Mexico by Friday.
A Nashville Department of Transportation truck applies salt brine to a roadway Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. ahead of a winter storm expected to hit the state over the weekend. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Meteorologists said the massive storm could produce a crippling ice event across parts of Texas and the southern U.S., drop roughly a foot (30 centimeters) of snow from Oklahoma through Washington, D.C., New York and Boston, then follow with an Arctic blast capable of sending wind chills to about minus 50°F (minus 46°C) in areas of Minnesota and North Dakota.
Scope Of The Threat
About 160 million people were under winter‑storm or cold‑weather watches and warnings. Officials cautioned that heavy ice accumulation could rival the destructive effects of a hurricane in some places, snapping tree limbs, toppling power lines and causing long outages.
A pedestrian bundles up as she crosses a street during a cold weather day in Evanston, Ill., Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Cold air funneling south from Canada already prompted Chicago Public Schools and Des Moines Public Schools in Iowa to cancel classes for safety. Forecasters warned wind chills near minus 35°F (minus 37°C) could cause frostbite in roughly 10 minutes, making outdoor exposure — walking to school or waiting at bus stops — extremely hazardous.
Why Power Outages Could Be Prolonged
Ice buildup can add hundreds of pounds to power lines and tree branches, increasing the likelihood of breakage, especially if strong winds arrive. The ensuing deep freeze will slow thawing and complicate repairs, raising the prospect of outages that could last days in some communities.
Austin Felts of the Nashville Department of Transportation drives a truck deploying salt brine on roadways Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. ahead of a winter storm expected to hit the state over the weekend. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Forecasters also warned that freezing temperatures could reach as far south as Florida.
Preparation And Local Impacts
Officials pointed to a severe cold snap five years ago that severely damaged Texas’s power grid — leaving millions without power for days and contributing to widespread fatalities — and stressed the need for preparedness. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the state’s power system is stronger now and urged residents to follow official guidance.
A Nashville Department of Transportation truck applies salt brine to a roadway Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. ahead of a winter storm expected to hit the state over the weekend. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Governors in Georgia and Mississippi declared states of emergency. North Carolina’s largest public school system asked teachers to prepare three days of remote or paper assignments in case classrooms close for multiple days. Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger urged residents to ready themselves for possible multi‑day outages or neighborhood isolation and encouraged people to call 911 in emergencies without fear of immigration enforcement concerns.
Commercial activity responded quickly: employees at Jomo’s Power Equipment in Huntsville, Alabama, sold dozens of generators in about a day and ordered emergency shipments. Shoppers reported depleted grocery shelves in some areas, with shortages of water, bread, eggs and meat.
By Thursday, airlines had canceled hundreds of flights scheduled for Friday and Saturday at busy airports including Dallas, Atlanta, Oklahoma City and Tulsa.
Precaution: Officials urged residents to stock essential supplies, avoid nonessential travel once the storm arrives, keep phones charged, prepare for power outages, and check on elderly or vulnerable neighbors.
The Associated Press compiled reporting from journalists across the country.
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