A massive winter storm is sweeping across the United States this weekend, placing an estimated 205 million people under some form of winter weather alert and disrupting travel across a broad swath of the country from the Southwest to New England.

Meteorologists warn that the system will deliver a dangerous combination of heavy snow, crippling ice, and life-threatening cold, with impacts expected to stretch well into next week as communities struggle to dig out and power crews race to restore electricity.

More News

Coast to Coast Alerts as Storm Expands

The National Weather Service has issued an extensive lattice of winter storm warnings, ice storm warnings, wind chill advisories, and blizzard alerts that now cover much of the Lower 48. From Arizona and New Mexico through the central Plains and into the Midwest, bands of snow and mixed precipitation are already underway, while the storm’s leading edge continues pushing toward the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

At the heart of the system, forecasters expect a corridor of 10 to 20 inches of snow to fall from parts of Oklahoma and Kansas through the Ohio Valley and into interior New England. North of this axis, lighter but still disruptive snow is likely, while to the south, a broad zone of sleet and freezing rain threatens to transform roads, sidewalks, and power lines into treacherous sheets of ice. As the storm matures and tracks eastward, more than half of the U.S. population could experience some form of wintry precipitation over a 24 to 36 hour window.

Officials emphasize that even residents in areas not expecting heavy snowfall remain at risk from bitterly cold air spilling in behind the storm. Wind chills in parts of the Upper Midwest and northern Plains are forecast to plunge to levels that can cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes, raising the stakes for anyone stranded on the roads or without reliable heat.

Travel Chaos in the Air and on the Roads

The storm’s timing and breadth are already wreaking havoc on transportation networks. Airlines began preemptively canceling flights as the system’s track and intensity became clearer, with more than 1,300 flights scrubbed nationwide by early Friday and warnings of thousands more delays and cancellations through Monday as snow and ice migrate eastward.

Major hubs in Dallas, Denver, Chicago, Atlanta, and the New York region are all bracing for significant disruption, with ripple effects expected across the entire domestic network. Airlines have issued flexible rebooking policies, urging travelers to monitor their flight status frequently and, where possible, shift travel to early next week once the worst of the weather passes and crews reposition aircraft.

On the ground, interstates from the southern Plains to the Great Lakes are already reporting slick conditions and reduced visibility, and several state transportation agencies have warned of potential full or partial closures if conditions deteriorate. Long stretches of interstates in the central U.S. are expected to face near-whiteout conditions at the height of the storm, especially as strong winds whip across open terrain and create blowing and drifting snow.

Truckers and long-distance motorists are being urged to adjust departure times, carry emergency supplies including blankets and food, and be prepared for sudden shutdowns of key routes as crashes and jackknifed tractor-trailers accumulate. Local officials continue to stress that nonessential travel should be postponed across many of the hardest-hit regions.

States of Emergency and Strain on Infrastructure

The scale of the storm has prompted at least 13 governors to declare states of emergency, unlocking additional resources and streamlining coordination across local, state, and federal agencies. States stretching from Texas and Oklahoma through Kentucky and Ohio and into Pennsylvania and New York have activated emergency operations centers and pre-positioned equipment in anticipation of power outages, road closures, and calls for rescue.

Power utilities across the central and eastern United States have issued their own warnings, noting that heavy, wet snow and a thick glaze of ice may weigh down tree branches and distribution lines, causing potentially widespread and prolonged outages. In areas expecting more than a quarter-inch of ice accumulation, crews have been staged near likely trouble spots, but officials caution that high winds and ongoing hazardous conditions could slow restoration efforts.

City authorities in major metropolitan areas including St. Louis, Indianapolis, Columbus, Pittsburgh, and Boston have announced round-the-clock plowing operations, parking restrictions on key corridors, and increased staffing for emergency responders. Hospitals are bracing for an uptick in weather-related injuries, from traffic accidents to falls on ice and cases of frostbite and hypothermia.

Federal agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Transportation, are monitoring conditions and coordinating with state partners. While the nation’s power grid has taken steps to improve resilience since the deadly 2021 Texas freeze, officials acknowledge that back-to-back winter storms and extreme cold continue to test the limits of aging infrastructure.

Regional Hotspots: Where Conditions Look Worst

Forecasters highlight several key regions where impacts may be particularly severe. Across the southern Plains, including northern Texas and Oklahoma, a volatile mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain is likely to create a cement-like crust on top of earlier snowfall, complicating plowing and significantly increasing the risk of downed branches and power lines.

In the Ohio Valley and lower Great Lakes, from Louisville and Cincinnati through Cleveland and Buffalo, heavy snow bands are expected to develop on the storm’s cold side, with snowfall rates that may briefly exceed two inches per hour. Strong winds could lead to near-blizzard conditions at times, especially along the shores of the Great Lakes, where additional lake-enhanced snow is possible after the main system passes.

Further east, interior sections of the Northeast and New England face the prospect of a long-duration snow event. While coastal cities such as New York, Philadelphia, and Boston may see more mixed precipitation and rain at times, inland communities in upstate New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine could accumulate well over a foot of snow by late Sunday, with mountain areas potentially receiving even higher totals.

Farther south, parts of the Tennessee Valley, northern Georgia, and the Carolinas may see enough freezing rain to turn elevated surfaces, including bridges and overpasses, into hazardous travel zones. These regions, less accustomed to significant ice events, often struggle with limited snow-removal equipment and a thinner margin of safety when power outages coincide with cold temperatures.

Travelers Race to Adjust Plans

For travelers, the unfolding storm presents a complex web of changing conditions and shifting advice. At airports, long lines have been reported at customer service desks as passengers seek to rebook flights or secure hotel rooms before cancellations mount. Some carriers are encouraging travelers to avoid airport ticket counters in favor of mobile apps and call centers, where automated tools can offer alternative itineraries.

On the rails, several regional and long-distance routes are being modified or temporarily suspended, particularly in the Midwest and Northeast corridors where heavy snow and ice can obstruct tracks and overhead lines. Travelers relying on intercity buses are also being advised to check schedules frequently, as operators may cancel or reroute services if highways become impassable.

As road conditions deteriorate, state agencies are urging motorists to consolidate trips, avoid nighttime driving, and keep fuel tanks at least half full in case of unexpected delays. In many communities, residents are being asked to clear parked cars from designated snow emergency routes, allowing plows and emergency vehicles to navigate more efficiently.

For those who must travel for work or family obligations, travel experts recommend packing cold-weather gear, portable phone chargers, and small emergency kits with water and nonperishable snacks, especially along rural stretches where services may be spaced far apart and mobile coverage is patchy.

Communities Prepare Shelters and Warming Centers

As temperatures plunge and the threat of power outages looms, local governments and nonprofit organizations across the storm-affected region are opening warming centers and emergency shelters. Cities such as Minneapolis, Detroit, Chicago, and Cleveland have activated cold-weather protocols, expanding shelter capacity and extending hours at public buildings where residents can seek refuge from the cold.

Rural communities, often more vulnerable when roads become impassable, are leaning on volunteer fire departments, churches, and community centers to provide temporary relief. Officials are calling on residents to check on neighbors, particularly older adults and those with medical conditions who may rely on electric-powered equipment.

The storm also comes at a time when many households are grappling with high energy costs. Advocacy groups stress the importance of safe heating practices, warning against the use of outdoor grills or unvented gas heaters indoors, and reminding residents to keep generators outside and away from windows to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Public health agencies are reinforcing messages about dressing in layers, limiting time outdoors during the coldest periods, and recognizing early signs of hypothermia and frostbite. In harder-hit regions, schools and universities have already announced closures or shifts to remote learning, reducing the number of students and staff who must commute in hazardous conditions.

Climate Context and a New Era of Winter Extremes

While individual storms cannot be attributed to climate change alone, scientists note that the latest episode fits a broader pattern of increasingly volatile winter weather across North America. Warmer oceans and an atmosphere loaded with additional moisture are contributing to heavier precipitation events, including intense snowstorms when temperatures are cold enough.

Researchers also point to disruptions in the polar jet stream, which can allow frigid Arctic air to spill southward while storm systems tap into warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico. The result is a greater likelihood of high-impact winter storms that combine heavy snow, ice, and extreme cold over densely populated regions.

In recent years, a series of major winter weather events has exposed vulnerabilities in energy systems, transportation networks, and emergency planning. The current storm will add fresh data for planners and policymakers evaluating how to harden infrastructure, improve forecasting and communication, and support communities that may face multiple severe weather episodes each season.

For travelers and residents alike, the message from forecasters is consistent: remain informed, respect local advisories, and prepare for conditions that may be more intense and longer lasting than typical winter storms of the past.

What Comes Next

As the storm continues its march eastward into Sunday and Monday, forecast models suggest a gradual weakening as the system moves offshore. However, lingering snow showers, lake-effect bands downwind of the Great Lakes, and persistent cold will maintain hazardous conditions for days in some areas, especially where deep snowpack and ice remain.

Travel operations are expected to recover in stages. Airlines anticipate that schedules may not fully normalize until midweek, particularly at major hubs that must first clear backlogs of stranded passengers and reposition aircraft and crews. Road crews will prioritize key freight and commuter corridors, but residential streets in smaller communities may take longer to clear.

For the 205 million Americans currently under winter alerts, the immediate focus is staying safe through the height of the storm. As skies eventually clear, attention will turn to assessing damage, supporting those affected by outages and disrupted travel, and taking stock of yet another far-reaching winter event in a season that is proving both unpredictable and unforgiving.