WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Weather Service has posted a broad winter storm watch across much of the United States as a powerful winter system moves in. Heavy snow, sleet, freezing rain, and dangerous cold are all on the table.
This could be one of the biggest storms of the season, with impacts expected from the Southern Plains to the East Coast, plus parts of the Midwest, starting Friday, 23 January 2026, then lasting through the weekend and into early next week.
As of 21 to 22 January 2026, the National Weather Service (NWS) and local offices had issued a winter storm watch for parts of at least 20 states. That coverage could affect 70 million people or more.
Areas under watch include Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Missouri, Kansas, New Mexico, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, plus nearby areas reaching towards the Mid-Atlantic. A watch means conditions look right for significant winter weather within about 48 hours, so people should get ready now.
In many places, forecasters expect these watches to become winter storm watch warnings as the system gets closer and confidence increases. The NWS has called the storm “expansive”, with a possible footprint of more than 2,000 miles. An Arctic air mass is also pushing in, so extreme cold watches and warnings cover tens of millions more people, with wind chill values expected to drop to dangerous levels.
Winter Storm Watch: Snow, Ice, and Bitter Cold
The storm should take shape over the southern Rockies and Plains on Friday, 23 January, bringing the first waves of precipitation. Heavy snow is most likely in higher ground and on the colder, northern side of the track. Totals in the Southern Plains could reach 5 to 10 inches or more by Saturday.
As the system heads east, a messy mix of sleet and freezing rain looks more likely across the Lower Mississippi Valley, the Mid-South, and into parts of the Southeast.
Ice is a key concern on the warmer, southern edge of the storm. Some forecasts point to 0.2 to 0.5 inches of ice in spots, enough to bring down power lines, break tree limbs, and make roads dangerous. From Saturday through Monday, the storm is expected to spread into the Tennessee Valley, the Appalachians, and parts of the East Coast. Heavier snow could reach areas such as the Mid-Atlantic, and it may also threaten parts of the Northeast.
Behind the storm, an Arctic surge is set to bring sub-zero temperatures and harsh wind chills, especially from the Plains into the Midwest and East. Record lows are possible in Texas and other southern states. More than 230 million people could see temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. When snow and ice combine with extreme cold, the risks rise fast, including power cuts, stranded drivers, and life-threatening exposure.
Expected impacts and practical preparation
This multi-day system could disrupt travel, business, and daily routines across a large part of the country. Major cities in the forecast path include Dallas, Oklahoma City, Little Rock, Memphis, Nashville, Atlanta, and possibly Richmond or Washington, D.C. Officials are urging people to build basic emergency supplies, including food, water, medicines, blankets, and torches, and to avoid unnecessary travel. Keep checking updates from local NWS offices.
Because the storm may move slowly, poor conditions could drag on. That can mean longer-lasting ice build-up and roads staying snow-covered for extended periods. Forecast models are still shifting, but confidence is rising that this will be a high-impact event.
This storm arrives during a stretch of Arctic intrusions and changeable weather across the United States. Earlier in the week, extreme cold advisories were in place across the northern Plains, while lake-effect snow continued downwind of the Great Lakes. For southern states that don’t often see severe winter weather, this system could be a major shock.
Keep up with official updates on weather.gov and through local alerts. As the storm develops, more watches and warnings may be posted, and blizzard conditions are also possible in some areas.
