A large and potentially historic winter storm is expected to affect a very broad swath of the U.S. from the Southern Rockies and Southern Plains through the South, Mid-South, and into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast over the coming days. Forecasts may still shift, but alerts already cover parts of more than 30 states and around 160–200 million people.

States most likely to be affected

Current guidance points to a long west‑to‑east band of snow, ice, and dangerous cold. The states most at risk for some type of winter weather impact (snow, sleet, freezing rain, or extreme cold) include:

  • Southern Rockies / Southern Plains
    • New Mexico
    • Texas
    • Oklahoma
    • Kansas
    • Colorado (southern/eastern portions)
  • Lower Mississippi Valley & Mid‑South
    • Arkansas
    • Louisiana (especially north and northwest)
* Mississippi
* Tennessee
  • Deep South / Southeast
    • Alabama
    • Georgia (especially northern and eastern areas)
* South Carolina

* North Carolina
  • Ohio/Tennessee Valleys & Mid‑Atlantic
    • Kentucky
* West Virginia
* Virginia (including central and northern areas)

* Maryland
* Delaware
  • Northeast & I‑95 corridor
    • Pennsylvania
    • New Jersey
    • New York (including New York City)
* Connecticut
* Rhode Island
* Massachusetts (including Boston)
  • Upper Midwest / Northern tier (mainly extreme cold, some snow)
    • North Dakota
    • South Dakota
    • Minnesota
    • Iowa
    • Wisconsin
    • Northern Illinois (including Chicago) – particularly brutal cold, around 30°F below average in some spots.

Not every part of each state will see heavy snow or ice, but many are under or expecting some combination of winter storm watches, warnings, or very cold air.

Where the worst impacts may be

Forecasters are especially concerned about:

  • Major icing risk
    • Northern and eastern Texas
    • Lower Mississippi Valley (e.g., parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi)
    • Northern Georgia
    • Parts of the Carolinas
  • Heavy snow potential
    • From Oklahoma, northern Texas, and southern Kansas eastward through the Mid‑South into the Mid‑Atlantic
    • Central Virginia through Washington, D.C., up the I‑95 corridor to New York City and possibly Boston (over a foot of snow possible in some areas).

Timing and travel concerns

  • The storm is expected to strengthen Friday in the Plains, then push east through the weekend into Sunday.
  • Hazardous travel is likely on major highways and at key airports across the South, Mid‑South, Mid‑Atlantic, and Northeast, with potential for widespread delays and cancellations.
  • A surge of Arctic air behind the storm will drop temperatures far below normal, with dangerous wind chills and prolonged subfreezing conditions in many areas.

Quick safety checklist

  • Check your local forecast and alerts multiple times a day; the exact rain/snow/ice line can shift by 50–100 miles.
  • Prepare for power outages in areas highlighted for significant ice: charge devices, have flashlights, batteries, and a way to stay warm safely.
  • Avoid non‑essential travel during the height of the storm; even a quarter‑inch of ice can make roads impassable and bring down trees and power lines.
  • If you must travel, keep an emergency kit in your car (blankets, water, snacks, phone charger).

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.