- By Shubham Bajpai
- Sat, 24 Jan 2026 08:31 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
The United States is set to face a massive days long winter storm as bone-chilling freezing rain fell in parts of Texas on Friday. At least 17 states have declared a state of emergency as at least 182 million Americans were under watches of warning for ice and snow and over 210 million were under cold weather warnings.
The icy storm could coat roads, trees and power lines and could be a "widespread potentially catastrophic event from Texas to the Carolinas," said Ryan Maue, a former chief scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Starting Friday, the storm could bring more than half-an-inch of snow. As a result, thousands of flights have been cancelled, a massive power outage is expected.
Here are 10 points on the icy storm
Affected region: According to a report by CNN, the snow and ice of the storm will stretch 2,000 miles from Texas to New England, affecting more than half of all Americans, who will face sub-zero temperatures next week.
Two streams of moisture: Snowfall began on Friday over the southern-central Plains and it was expected to expand eastward, fed by two streams of dense moisture, one blowing in from the Pacific and one outflowing from the Gulf of Mexico.
Meanwhile, a near-record high pressure zone was migrating out of the Rockies, pulling an Arctic air mass into the US, combined with gusty winds, Reuters cited Jacob Asherman, a meteorologist at the U.S. Weather Prediction Center in Maryland, as saying.
17 states declare emergency: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, New Jersey, Maryland, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Washington, DC have declared an emergency.
Flights cancelled: More than 2,300 flights have been cancelled across the US due to heavy rainfall and snowfall warning in parts of the United States over the weekend. On Friday along, more than 1,000 flights were delayed or cancelled with half of them in Dallas.
Power outage, blocked roads: The authorities in states and local administrations have warned citizens to brace for power outages as ice-coated trees and power lines can keep falling long after a storm has passed. The outages can last for several days even after storm asses.
Most expansive storm: Rob Carolan, chief executive officer of Hometown Forecast Services, was quoted by Bloomberg as calling the storm as one of the most expansive in the country since 1993 superstorm.
Schools and Colleges closed: The schools and colleges have shut he classes in several affected areas. According to a report by CNN, the University of Mississippi, William & Mary University, Elizabethtown College, Dallas Baptist University, Presbyterian College, The University of Houston, Louisiana Tech University, Chesapeake College in Maryland, Springfield College in Massachusetts and Coppin State University have announced closure.
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Federal agency prepares: The federal government has put nearly 30 search and rescue teams on standby. Along with this, more than 7 million meals, 600,000 blankets and 300 generators placed throughout the area the storm was expected to cross, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Ice build-up: According to predictions, ost ice build-up will be in northern Mississippi and the western Carolinas. The snow accumulation from half-an-inch to one-and-half inch is likely to make roads impassable and pipes frozen and power outages worse..
Northeast expecting heaviest snowfall in years: The northeast part of the United States is likely to get the heaviest snowfall in years. Boston, Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts were workingom.
Connecticut Gov Ned Lamont urged people to shop groceries and "stay home on Sunday."
