Half of U.S. Braces for Record Snow, Ice, and Power Outages
Updated (2 articles)
Widespread Alerts Cover 177 Million Under Snow/Ice Warnings Forecasters placed roughly 177 million people under snow or ice warnings and more than 200 million under cold‑weather advisories, affecting about half the nation’s population [1][2]. The alerts span from Texas to New England, prompting emergency managers to activate response plans. Officials warned that the overlapping watches could strain local resources as the storm progresses.
Arctic Air Drives Extreme Cold and Midwest School Closures A surge of Arctic air spilling south from Canada pushed wind chills to minus 40 °F in parts of the Midwest, prompting school closures in Chicago and surrounding districts [1][2]. The bitter cold raised frostbite concerns, leading shelters to extend hours and authorities to issue warming‑center alerts. Transportation agencies prepared for icy road conditions as temperatures plunged.
Southern States Prepare Roads and Deploy Guard Amid Icy Threat Texas and Oklahoma pretreated major highways with salt‑brine solutions to mitigate ice accumulation [1][2]. State troopers canceled scheduled days off and the National Guard was mobilized to assist stranded motorists, while some Texas schools shifted to remote learning [1][2]. These measures aim to reduce power‑outage risks and maintain critical travel routes.
Northeast Anticipates Up to a Foot of Snow and Boston Emergency Forecast models projected up to one foot of snow from Washington, D.C., through New York to Boston, where officials declared a cold emergency as wind chills fell well below zero [1]. The heavy snowfall is expected to be the region’s most significant in years, prompting pre‑emptive snow‑removal deployments. Boston’s emergency declaration underscores the severity of the forecasted impact.
Air Travel Disrupted Nationwide with Over a Thousand Flight Delays FlightAware reported more than 1,000 flight delays and cancellations on Friday, with an additional 1,400 expected on Saturday as the storm intensified [1][2]. Major airports across the country reduced operations, and airlines advised passengers to rebook or seek refunds. The widespread disruptions highlight the storm’s effect on national transportation networks.
Sources (2 articles)
-
[1]
WBNS: Winter storm bears down on half the U.S., bringing snow, ice and power-outage risk: details nationwide warnings, Arctic air, school closures, road treatment, Boston emergency, and extensive flight disruptions .
-
[2]
King5: Winter storm bears down on half the U.S., bringing snow, ice and widespread outages: emphasizes power‑outage risk, compares potential damage to a hurricane, highlights Texas road treatment, National Guard deployment, flight delays, and grid‑resilience concerns .
Timeline
Feb 2021 – A historic cold snap cripples Texas’s power grid, leaving millions without electricity for days and prompting officials to vow “we will not let that happen again” in future winter events. [2]
Jan 23, 2026 – The National Weather Service issues winter‑storm watches and warnings that cover roughly half the United States, placing 177 million people under ice‑and‑snow alerts and more than 200 million under cold‑weather advisories. [1][2]
Jan 23, 2026 – Arctic air plunges south from Canada, driving wind chills to ‑40 °F in the Midwest; school districts in Chicago and other Midwestern cities cancel classes and shift to remote learning to protect students from frostbite. [1][2]
Jan 23, 2026 – Texas and Oklahoma transportation departments pre‑treat major highways with salt‑brine, state troopers cancel scheduled days off, and National Guard teams mobilize to assist stranded drivers as ice and snow threaten the Southern Plains. [1][2]
Jan 23, 2026 – Boston declares a cold emergency as forecasters project up to a foot of snow from Washington, D.C., to New York and Boston, with wind chills well below zero, marking what could be the region’s heaviest snowfall in years. [1]
Jan 23, 2026 – Nationwide air travel grinds to a halt: more than 1,000 flights are delayed or canceled on Friday, and FlightAware projects an additional 1,400 cancellations for Saturday, underscoring the storm’s broad economic impact. [1][2]
Jan 24, 2026 – Experts warn that the storm’s ice‑laden bands could cause “damage comparable to a hurricane,” as heavy ice loads threaten to snap branches and power lines, raising outage risk across the storm‑affected corridor. [2]