A fast organizing winter storm is bearing down on the eastern United States, with forecasters warning of a swath of disruptive snow stretching from the Gulf Coast through the Carolinas and Mid Atlantic into southern New England.

Maryland is the latest state to move into the storm’s crosshairs, joining Delaware, North Carolina, Georgia, Maine, Pennsylvania, Alabama and a growing list of states bracing for dangerous travel, flight cancellations and potential power outages as the system strengthens and tracks northeast through the holiday weekend.

More News

Storm Track Expands From Gulf Coast To Southern New England

Meteorologists say the storm is tapping Gulf and Atlantic moisture while colliding with much colder air entrenched over the eastern half of the country, a classic setup for a broad snow shield and pockets of heavy banding. Early model guidance and National Weather Service discussions on Friday, January 16, point to a corridor of accumulating snow that could begin over parts of the lower Mississippi Valley and Deep South before arcing through the central and southern Appalachians and then spreading into the Mid Atlantic and New England I 95 corridor late in the weekend.

Light to moderate snow is expected to break out first over portions of Alabama and Georgia, where winter weather advisories have been raised in spots not accustomed to seeing plows on the roads. As the system tracks east and then northeast, the snow zone is forecast to extend through the Carolinas and Virginia, with a secondary coastal low developing and helping to sling moisture inland toward Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania. By late Sunday into Monday, snow is projected to reach southern New England, including parts of Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Forecasters stress that the exact placement of the heaviest snow band will depend on the storm’s final track and how quickly the coastal low strengthens offshore. Small shifts of 50 to 100 miles could dramatically alter which communities see several inches of accumulation, a messy mix of snow and sleet, or mainly cold rain. But confidence is high that a large region from the Gulf Coast to southern New England will see at least some wintry impact during a prime travel period.

Maryland And Mid Atlantic Move Into The High Impact Zone

In Maryland, state transportation and emergency officials spent Friday escalating preparations as updated forecasts signaled a higher likelihood of plowable snow and dangerous road conditions from late weekend into early next week. The Baltimore and Washington corridor, already flagged by major airlines with weather waivers, is expected to see bands of snow that could quickly coat highways and secondary roads, especially overnight and during the early morning hours when temperatures are coldest.

Past storms that followed a similar track have snarled travel across the Mid Atlantic. A January 2025 system, for example, brought 4 to 10 inches of snow to parts of the Washington to Baltimore region, shut down segments of major interstates and contributed to hundreds of crashes and vehicle spinouts as snow overwhelmed road crews at the height of the storm. Officials on Friday repeatedly referenced those episodes as they urged residents to adjust weekend plans and avoid unnecessary driving when heavier snow is falling.

Neighboring Delaware and Pennsylvania have also shifted into response mode. Coastal and inland communities in both states have seen crippling impacts from prior nor’easter style systems, and governors’ offices there were working with transportation departments and utilities to stage plows, tow trucks and repair crews. With the new storm expected to arrive in waves and linger long enough to cause multiple rounds of slick conditions, transportation agencies say they are preparing for a prolonged operation stretching from pre treatment to cleanup.

Southern States From Alabama To Georgia Brace For Unusual Snow Threat

Further south, the prospect of snow in Alabama and Georgia is raising concerns because even relatively small accumulations can trigger major disruptions in cities with limited winter road equipment and drivers unaccustomed to navigating icy surfaces. Forecast discussions on Friday highlighted the risk that just a coating to a couple of inches of snow or a brief period of sleet could rapidly freeze on elevated surfaces, including bridges and overpasses along major corridors.

Local officials in parts of Alabama warned that overnight timing could increase the danger, as wet roads quickly turn to ice when temperatures fall below freezing. In previous winters, similar setups in the Deep South produced scenes of jackknifed trucks, stranded commuters and abandoned vehicles along interstates when short but intense bursts of wintry precipitation coincided with rush hour. Emergency managers are using those memories to push a simple message ahead of this storm: if conditions worsen more quickly than expected, staying off the roads could be the safest option.

In Georgia, forecasters indicated that colder pockets in the northern part of the state, including communities along and north of I 20 and closer to the Appalachian foothills, have the highest odds of accumulating snow. Atlanta’s busy air travel hub and surrounding road network sit near the edge of the transition zone between rain and snow, so even modest shifts in the storm’s thermal profile could have an outsize impact on whether the metro area faces light slush or more significant icing problems.

North Carolina And Coastal States Eye Dangerous Mix Of Snow, Sleet And Wind

North Carolina, which spans from high elevations in the west to low lying coastal plains, faces a complex mix of hazards from this storm. Mountain communities and higher terrain in the western and central parts of the state are being told to prepare for several inches of snow and periods of blowing snow that could briefly produce whiteout conditions along ridge top highways. In contrast, the Piedmont and coastal plain may see a messy blend of snow, sleet and cold rain that could flash freeze as temperatures fluctuate around the freezing mark.

Coastal states further north along the Atlantic seaboard, including sections of Virginia and the Delmarva Peninsula, are monitoring the potential for strengthening winds as the coastal low deepens offshore. While the current forecast keeps the worst of the gale force gusts over the open waters, forecasters say gusty onshore winds could combine with heavy, wet snow in some areas to stress trees and power lines. That raises the possibility of scattered power outages in communities already facing hazardous roads and limited visibility.

Because this storm is forecast to evolve in stages, with one system moving off the coast and a secondary low redeveloping and sliding up the shoreline, winter weather impacts could unfold over two or even three distinct periods. Light snow and mixed precipitation may arrive first, followed by a more organized band of heavier snow as the coastal low strengthens. Coastal forecasters are watching for a scenario where the second phase coincides with higher tides, though at this stage only minor coastal flooding is expected in the most vulnerable low lying areas.

Airlines Issue Waivers As Flight Cancellations Loom

Major airlines began issuing weather waivers late this week for a long list of airports in the Midwest and Northeast, including key hubs in Baltimore, Washington, New York, Boston, Detroit and Philadelphia. Carriers are allowing travelers with tickets over the January 18 period and surrounding dates to rebook without change fees, provided they travel within specified windows. The move is designed to reduce the number of passengers stuck at airports if the storm forces widespread flight cancellations and diversions.

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and both Washington area airports have been specifically named in several of the waivers, reflecting growing confidence among forecasters that the Mid Atlantic will sit near or under the main snow band as the storm intensifies. In previous winter events, such as the large January 2016 and 2025 storms, tens of hundreds of flights were canceled and major Northeast hubs effectively shut down as crews struggled to clear runways and taxiways amid heavy snowfall and low visibility.

Travel analysts say the timing is particularly challenging because the storm’s strongest effects could overlap with the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday weekend. That period typically sees an uptick in leisure and family travel along the East Coast, as well as students returning to colleges and universities. Passengers are being urged to check their airline’s app or website frequently, sign up for text alerts, and consider shifting itineraries earlier or later to avoid the peak of the storm, if possible.

Road Travel Warnings From Mississippi Valley To New England

On the ground, transportation departments across multiple regions are urging drivers to treat this event as a serious safety threat, even in areas where final snow totals may prove modest. The National Weather Service has highlighted the risk that a relatively thin layer of snow or short burst of sleet can be enough to trigger dangerous conditions, especially during the storm’s first hours when chemicals and abrasives have not yet been fully applied to road surfaces.

From the lower Mississippi Valley into the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys and up through the Mid Atlantic, forecasters are calling attention to the potential for a sharp gradient between heavier snow and mixed precipitation. Motorists who set out in light flurries could quickly encounter near whiteout conditions in heavier bands, or hit unexpected patches of ice on shaded stretches and elevated roadways. State police agencies in several states have a long history of responding to hundreds of crashes during similar events, often involving chain reaction collisions and jackknifed tractor trailers.

As the storm pushes into New England, highway officials in states like Maine are preparing for another test of their plow fleets and salt supplies. While New Englanders are accustomed to winter driving, the combination of fresh snow, gusty winds and holiday traffic can still lead to spinouts and accidents on major arteries including segments of I 95. Authorities are recommending that long distance travelers consider adjusting departure times, packing winter emergency kits and fully charging phones in case of prolonged delays.

Utility Crews, Schools And Transit Systems Activate Plans

Utilities from Alabama through the Carolinas and up the Eastern Seaboard into New England have begun staging additional crews and pre positioning equipment in areas most at risk of outages. The chief concern is that a belt of heavy, wet snow, especially where it combines with gusty winds, could accumulate on tree limbs and power lines, bringing them down and knocking out electricity to homes and businesses. Some of the same regions now in the forecast cone experienced extensive outages during other recent winter storms when similar ingredients came together.

School districts and universities, mindful of both road safety and campus operations, are monitoring the latest updates with an eye toward potential schedule changes early next week. In previous storms of this kind, districts in the Mid Atlantic and Northeast have opted for early dismissals, delayed openings or full closures when snowfall rates spiked during normal commute times. Remote learning options, expanded during the pandemic years, give some systems added flexibility but also require advance notice and reliable connectivity that can be compromised if power lines fall.

Public transit agencies are also preparing for disruptions. In past major snow events, systems serving cities like Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Boston have reduced service, curtailed certain lines or in some cases suspended above ground operations entirely while crews cleared tracks and platforms. Riders are being advised to build in extra time and monitor agency alerts, as even short term adjustments can cascade into longer delays during complex winter storms.

Travelers Urged To Watch Rapidly Changing Forecasts

With many weather models still adjusting to real time observations from satellites, radar and surface stations, forecasters caution that key details of the storm’s impacts will likely evolve over the next 24 to 48 hours. That includes the precise axis of heaviest snow, the duration of mixed precipitation zones, and the intensity of winds near the coast. Local National Weather Service offices are expected to refine snowfall and icing maps and update watches and warnings as confidence increases in the storm’s final track.

For travelers, the message from meteorologists and emergency managers is to stay informed and remain flexible. Anyone planning long drives between the Gulf Coast and New England should check conditions not only at their starting point and destination but also along the route, where conditions may deteriorate faster than expected. Those flying into or out of impacted hubs are being encouraged to proactively explore rebooking options under airline waivers, keeping in mind that seats on the most desirable alternative flights may sell out quickly.

Officials across the expanding impact zone, from Alabama and Georgia to North Carolina, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and up through Maine, emphasize that the storm’s broad footprint means localized impacts could vary widely. Some communities may see only nuisance snow, while others experience hours of heavy snowfall, hazardous roads and intermittent loss of power. As the winter system organizes and moves east and north through the holiday weekend, its evolving path will determine just how severe the travel freefall becomes across this long stretch of the eastern United States.