Winter storm brings heavy snow, freezing temperatures across US
A massive winter storm struck much of the United States over the January 24-26, 2026 weekend, delivering heavy snow, sleet, freezing rain, and subzero temperatures across 17 states from New Mexico to New Hampshire.
The storm caused at least 20-30 deaths, primarily from hypothermia, medical emergencies while clearing snow, and related accidents. Over 800,000 people lost power, mainly in Southern and Northeastern states, with outages persisting into January 26 due to ice buildup on lines. Nearly half of U.S. states declared emergencies, and President Trump authorized aid for at least 12.
Snowfall exceeded 12 inches across a 1,300-mile stretch from Arkansas to New England, with some spots hitting 20-24 inches and breaking records in the South and Mid-Atlantic. Freezing rain created “catastrophic” ice from the Mississippi Valley to the Southeast, while wind chills dropped to -50°F in the Northern Plains. The Northeast faced ongoing light snow into January 26, with subzero lows nationwide—the coldest since 2014 in some metrics.
More than 4,400 flights were canceled or delayed, roads became impassable, and schools closed widely. Hazardous refreezing occurred overnight into January 26, prompting stay-off-roads warnings. As of January 27, bitter cold lingers in the East, though the storm has moved offshore.
