Winter Storm of Jan 25‑26, 2026 Paralyzes U.S., Sparks Snow‑Covered Urban Scenes
Updated (2 articles)
Nationwide Scope and Warning Coverage The system unleashed sleet, freezing rain and snow on Sunday, Jan 25, 2026, and lingered into Jan 26, affecting a swath from New Mexico to New England. Approximately 140 million people fell under winter storm warnings, indicating the storm’s breadth across both northern and southern states[2]. The storm’s progression was captured in images dated Jan 21‑25, showing a steady eastward advance[2].
Power Outages and Ice‑Related Damage Ice accumulation on distribution lines left hundreds of thousands without electricity in the Southeast, with icicles hanging from lines in Tucker, Georgia, and tree limbs coated in ice in Nashville, Tennessee[1]. Utility crews were dispatched to restore service while residents relied on generators and emergency shelters[1]. The same ice burden threatened infrastructure nationwide, prompting emergency warnings about downed lines and slippery surfaces[1].
Transportation Gridlock and Snow‑Removal Efforts Road travel stalled as municipal workers spread salt, plowed runways at Philadelphia airports, and shovelled snow outside Washington’s National Gallery of Art[1]. Airports managed de‑icing operations, yet planes remained on tarmacs at Nashville International and passengers walked on salt‑covered sidewalks at Dallas Love Field on Jan 24[2]. Interstate‑20 tow trucks and plows responded to disabled trucks, illustrating the strain on highway logistics[2].
Public Adaptation and Visual Documentation Residents turned public spaces into recreation areas, sledding down the Philadelphia Art Museum steps and walking across the Brooklyn Bridge[1]. Photo galleries displayed frozen doors, stocked shelves in Pittsburgh markets, and aerial views of snowfall over Oklahoma City, highlighting both personal coping strategies and community impacts[2]. The storm prompted widespread stockpiling of essentials, with shoppers braving cold weather in parking lots across multiple cities[2].
Sources
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1.
AP: Winter Storm Paralyzes U.S., Sparks Snow‑Covered Scenes on Jan 25, 2026**: Details the storm’s nationwide impact on Jan 25‑26, emphasizing power outages in the Southeast, municipal snow‑removal actions, and urban recreation scenes.
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2.
AP: Monster Winter Storm Sweeps Across the United States, Photo Gallery Shows Impacts**: Provides a photo‑rich account of the storm’s progression from Jan 21‑25, focusing on personal coping methods, airport disruptions, retail stockpiling, and aerial snowfall imagery.
Timeline
Jan 21, 2026 – The National Weather Service issues a winter storm warning that places roughly 140 million people from New Mexico to New England under alert, signaling a massive system poised to deliver severe winter weather across the central and eastern United States [2].
Jan 24, 2026 – In Arlington, Texas, Ignacio Rodriguez uses a torch to thaw his brother’s frozen pickup door, illustrating personal improvisation to keep vehicles operable amid icy conditions [2].
Jan 24, 2026 – Airlines at Nashville International Airport and Dallas Love Field keep planes on the tarmac while crews spread salt on sidewalks, showing ongoing de‑icing and passenger movement despite the storm’s impact [2].
Jan 24, 2026 – Shoppers in Pittsburgh raid water shelves and brave cold parking lots, reflecting heightened consumer stockpiling as the storm approaches [2].
Jan 24, 2026 – Aerial imagery captures snow blanketing downtown Oklahoma City, confirming the storm’s extensive urban snowfall on the eve of its peak [2].
Jan 25, 2026 – The winter storm unleashes sleet, freezing rain and snow across a broad swath of the United States, paralyzing air and road traffic and driving temperatures sharply lower, marking the storm’s peak impact [1].
Jan 25, 2026 – Ice accumulation on distribution lines knocks out power for hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses throughout the Southeast, prompting utility crews to mobilize emergency restoration efforts [1].
Jan 25, 2026 – Municipal crews spread salt on sidewalks in Indianapolis, plow runways at Philadelphia airports, and shovel snow outside Washington’s National Gallery of Art, coordinating to keep key transportation routes functional [1].
Jan 25, 2026 – Residents transform city landmarks into impromptu recreation areas, sledding down the Philadelphia Art Museum steps, walking the Brooklyn Bridge, and gathering on Lake Michigan’s shoreline, highlighting community adaptation to the severe weather [1].
Jan 25, 2026 – Icicles dangle from power lines in Tucker, Georgia, and tree limbs coat in ice in Nashville, Tennessee, underscoring hazardous infrastructure conditions and prompting emergency warnings to avoid downed lines and slippery surfaces [1].