MILLIONS OF AMERICANS are braced for a potentially “catastrophic” winter storm that is threatening to bring transportation chaos, blackouts and life-threatening cold. 

A combination of heavy snow, freezing rain and sleet is in store from the Southern Rockies to New England until Monday and could affect more than 170 million people across the nation, the US National Weather Service said.

The storm could bring “catastrophic ice accumulation”, potentially causing “long-duration power outages, extensive tree damage, and extremely dangerous or impassable travel conditions,” including in many states less accustomed to intense winter weather.

Freezing temperatures are expected all the way to Florida, forecasters said.

Authorities warned of life-threatening cold that could last a week post-storm, especially in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest, where wind chill lows were forecast to dip to extremes under -50 degrees Fahrenheit (-46.6 degrees Celsius).

Take this storm seriously, folks.

Moderate to major impacts are expected from the Central US through to the Northeast today through the weekend.
- Hazardous to impossible driving conditions are expected. Avoid travel if at all possible.
- Widespread closures and disruption to… pic.twitter.com/bR76NpsrEy

— National Weather Service (@NWS) January 23, 2026

After battering the country’s southwest and central areas, the storm system was expected to hit the heavily populated mid-Atlantic and northeastern states – stretching from New Mexico to the Eastern seaboard – before a frigid air mass settles in.

More than 2,700 weekend flights have already been cancelled, according to the tracker Flightaware, including many in and outbound from Texas.

State officials there vow the grid is in better shape than it was five years ago, when it failed during a deadly winter storm and left millions without power.

The southern state’s Republican Governor Greg Abbott told journalists the grid “has never been stronger, never been more prepared and is fully capable of handling this winter storm.”

Yet Michael Webber, a University of Texas engineering professor, warned ice accumulations would remain “a big risk” across the country – ice could amass and weigh down trees, for example, downing power lines and provoking outages.

States of emergency

Oklahoma’s Department of Transportation pre-treated roads with salt brine. The state Highway Patrol cancelled days off so more workers can assist and said it was partnering with the National Guard to send teams out to help stranded drivers.

“Travel is going to become more and more treacherous starting late Friday afternoon and lasting through the rest of the weekend,” the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma, posted online.

Oklahoma City Public Schools officials cancelled all classes and activities on Friday due to predicted deteriorating road conditions.

Governors in Georgia and Mississippi have declared states of emergency.

In Huntsville, Alabama, employees from Jomo’s Power Equipment, Parts & Service sold dozens of generators within about a day and ordered an emergency shipment to meet customer demand.

“I’d say 95% of the calls were generator-related or either service or ‘Do you have any generators in stock,’” Bryan Hill, the store’s manager, said.

In New York state, Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul warned residents to stay inside amid frigid conditions: “Five or six minutes outside could literally be dangerous for your health.”

She stressed precautions like protecting pipes, using heaters safely, and checking on vulnerable neighbors.

New York’s Zohran Mamdani was set to face his first major test as mayor – the city famously makes early judgments of newly elected leaders based on winter storm response. He said remote learning was an option on Monday, but he was not planning to close schools.

Empty shelves

School districts elsewhere were preemptively announcing closures. A professional basketball game today and dozens of collegiate games were rescheduled.

Even in Chicago, a city all-too-familiar with bone-chilling weather, an organisation canceled their annual event that sees participants plunge into glacial Lake Michigan for charity (the after-party at a bar was still on.)

Empty shelves at a Wegmans supermarket in Alexandria, Virginia. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

At least 16 states and Washington DC declared states of emergency to mobilise disaster response crews and resources, and many municipalities were opening warming shelters.

Lines snaked out of grocery stores where stock began running thin.

At a busy supermarket near Dallas city centre, Kennedi Mallard and Frank Green loaded two shopping trolleys full of supplies into their car. They said there were some bare shelves inside.

“No water, no eggs, no butter, no ground meat,” Green said.

North of Houston, one supermarket was nearly out of bottled water.

Anne Schultz said preparation was key but she wasn’t particularly afraid: “If the power stays on, we should all be fine,” the 68-year-old told AFP.

The Greensboro Police Department in North Carolina meanwhile warned residents to choose wisely when hunkering down.

“Please remember that whoever you hang out with on Saturday, you’re stuck with until at least Tuesday when the ice melts,” the department said on X. 

With reporting from AFP 2026