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National Weather Service Issues Winter Storm Watches for Mid‑Atlantic as Snow Threatens Four States

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  • A contractor uses a snowblower in front of a business following a major snow storm on January 26, 2026, in Louisville, Kentucky.
    Image: Newsweek
    A contractor uses a snowblower in front of a business following a major snow storm on January 26, 2026, in Louisville, Kentucky. Source Full size
  • People cross a street as trucks plow snow in the Manhattan borough of New York City on January 25, 2026
    Image: Newsweek
    People cross a street as trucks plow snow in the Manhattan borough of New York City on January 25, 2026 Source Full size
  • NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JANUARY 25: A vehicle navigates around fallen branches due to ice during a snowstorm on January 25, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. A massive winter storm is bringing frigid temperatures, ice, and snow to millions of Americans across the nation. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JANUARY 25: A vehicle navigates around fallen branches due to ice during a snowstorm on January 25, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. A massive winter storm is bringing frigid temperatures, ice, and snow to millions of Americans across the nation. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) Source Full size
  • File Photo: A pickup truck sits abandoned after sliding off the road in icy conditions in Stafford County, Virginia, on January 04, 2022.
    Image: Newsweek
    File Photo: A pickup truck sits abandoned after sliding off the road in icy conditions in Stafford County, Virginia, on January 04, 2022. Source Full size
  • Traffic moving on I-66 West during a snow storm on March 5, 2015 in Manassas, Virginia. A major winter storm slammed parts of the United States, as thousands of flights were canceled and government offices shut down in anticipation of more than half a foot of snow in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO/ KAREN BLEIER (Photo credit should read KAREN BLEIER/AFP via Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    Traffic moving on I-66 West during a snow storm on March 5, 2015 in Manassas, Virginia. A major winter storm slammed parts of the United States, as thousands of flights were canceled and government offices shut down in anticipation of more than half a foot of snow in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO/ KAREN BLEIER (Photo credit should read KAREN BLEIER/AFP via Getty Images) Source Full size
  • WATERTOWN, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 5: A semi-truck with hazard lights on navigates through the snow squall on I-81 on December 5, 2024 in Watertown, New York. This region in New York is experiencing the second snowstorm of the week and has been under a Winter Storm Warning for two days. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    WATERTOWN, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 5: A semi-truck with hazard lights on navigates through the snow squall on I-81 on December 5, 2024 in Watertown, New York. This region in New York is experiencing the second snowstorm of the week and has been under a Winter Storm Warning for two days. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images) Source Full size
  • Traffic moving on I-66 West during a snow storm on March 5, 2015 in Manassas, Virginia. A major winter storm slammed parts of the United States, as thousands of flights were canceled and government offices shut down in anticipation of more than half a foot of snow in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO/ KAREN BLEIER (Photo credit should read KAREN BLEIER/AFP via Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    Traffic moving on I-66 West during a snow storm on March 5, 2015 in Manassas, Virginia. A major winter storm slammed parts of the United States, as thousands of flights were canceled and government offices shut down in anticipation of more than half a foot of snow in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO/ KAREN BLEIER (Photo credit should read KAREN BLEIER/AFP via Getty Images) Source Full size
  • File Photo: A pickup truck sits abandoned after sliding off the road in icy conditions in Stafford County, Virginia, on January 04, 2022.
    Image: Newsweek
    File Photo: A pickup truck sits abandoned after sliding off the road in icy conditions in Stafford County, Virginia, on January 04, 2022. Source Full size
  • WATERTOWN, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 5: A semi-truck with hazard lights on navigates through the snow squall on I-81 on December 5, 2024 in Watertown, New York. This region in New York is experiencing the second snowstorm of the week and has been under a Winter Storm Warning for two days. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    WATERTOWN, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 5: A semi-truck with hazard lights on navigates through the snow squall on I-81 on December 5, 2024 in Watertown, New York. This region in New York is experiencing the second snowstorm of the week and has been under a Winter Storm Warning for two days. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images) Source Full size
  • A contractor uses a snowblower in front of a business following a major snow storm on January 26, 2026, in Louisville, Kentucky.
    Image: Newsweek
    A contractor uses a snowblower in front of a business following a major snow storm on January 26, 2026, in Louisville, Kentucky. Source Full size
  • People cross a street as trucks plow snow in the Manhattan borough of New York City on January 25, 2026
    Image: Newsweek
    People cross a street as trucks plow snow in the Manhattan borough of New York City on January 25, 2026 Source Full size
  • NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JANUARY 25: A vehicle navigates around fallen branches due to ice during a snowstorm on January 25, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. A massive winter storm is bringing frigid temperatures, ice, and snow to millions of Americans across the nation. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JANUARY 25: A vehicle navigates around fallen branches due to ice during a snowstorm on January 25, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. A massive winter storm is bringing frigid temperatures, ice, and snow to millions of Americans across the nation. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) Source Full size

Mid‑Atlantic Winter Storm Watches Activated On February 4 the National Weather Service released winter storm watches for West Virginia, western Maryland and Pennsylvania, forecasting 4‑7 inches of snow in Charleston and up to 6 inches in Baltimore and Pittsburgh areas, with wind gusts reaching 50 mph and visibility dropping below a quarter‑mile on Friday and Saturday mornings [1]. The watches replace earlier watches and signal heightened confidence that hazardous conditions will develop within 48 hours. Officials warned that slippery roads and white‑out conditions could impede commuter traffic.

Snow and Ice Expected in Four Additional States The same day the NWS issued winter weather warnings for counties in New York, North Carolina, Virginia and Alaska, projecting 2‑4 inches of snow in Wayne and northern Cayuga (NY), up to 1 inch of snow or sleet in several NC and VA counties, and as much as 7 inches of lake‑effect snow on Eagle summit in Alaska with 55‑mph winds [2]. Freezing rain was also forecast for select NC counties, raising the risk of icy surfaces. These warnings cover the period from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning, targeting morning commutes.

Travel Advisories Emphasize Morning Commutes Both the Mid‑Atlantic watches and the multi‑state warnings advise motorists to reduce speed, use caution, and check real‑time road conditions via 511 before traveling [1][2]. The NWS highlighted that Thursday morning rush‑hour travel in New York, North Carolina and Virginia, as well as Friday evening travel in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, could be especially hazardous. Drivers were urged to allow extra travel time and consider postponing non‑essential trips.

Wind and Visibility Pose Additional Hazards Strong winds of 50‑60 mph are expected in Maryland, West Virginia and Alaska, contributing to blowing snow that can reduce visibility to less than a quarter‑mile [1][2]. Similar conditions were reported in a sudden snow‑squall warning over western New York, where gusts of 20 mph and quarter‑mile visibility prompted alerts for Interstate 90 [3]. The combination of heavy snowfall and high winds raises the likelihood of rapid white‑out conditions.

Power Outage Risks from Freezing Rain and Heavy Snow Forecasts of freezing rain in Bladen, Inland Pender and Robeson counties (NC) could create slippery sidewalks and increase the chance of localized power outages [2]. In Maryland and West Virginia, falling trees and downed lines are possible as gusts reach 50 mph alongside 4‑7 inches of snow [1]. The NWS urged residents to prepare emergency supplies and secure outdoor items to mitigate damage.

Sources

Timeline

Dec 2, 2025 – A fast‑moving winter system delivers the first widespread snow of the season to the interior Northeast, dropping up to 10 inches in places and causing a fatal crash near Jefferson City, Missouri, while heavy snow in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky slows commutes and triggers road closures [24].

Dec 3, 2025 – The National Weather Service issues a winter storm warning for Colorado and New Mexico, forecasting 8‑20 inches in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and urging travelers to delay trips and exercise extreme caution on mountain passes [23].

Dec 12, 2025 – The Weather Prediction Center releases a map showing a 4‑inch‑or‑more snow corridor from the northern High Plains to the Northeast; New York City faces a 23 % chance of 4 inches, while lake‑effect bands promise up to 14 inches near the Great Lakes [22].

Dec 16, 2025 – NOAA defines a “white‑Christmas” as ≥ 1 inch of snow on Dec 25 morning, notes a forthcoming jet‑stream shift that will block further Arctic surges, and highlights the Mountain West, northern Plains, Upper Midwest and northern New England as the regions with the highest chance of meeting that criterion [21].

Dec 17, 2025 – The Climate Prediction Center projects above‑average temperatures across most of the U.S. for Christmas, with only the far north near or below normal, while snow‑prone zones remain in the intermountain West, northern New England, the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest, and 122.4 million Americans plan holiday travel [20].

Dec 20, 2025 – NOAA forecasts a major winter storm that will blanket the South from Texas to the Carolinas, with Arctic air colliding with Gulf moisture to produce > 200 million people under sub‑20 °F temperatures, ≥ 4 inches of snow, isolated foot‑deep accumulations and quarter‑inch ice, and warns that I‑20 and I‑40 could become impassable [14].

Dec 20, 2025 – Former NOAA chief Ryan Maue warns of a “widespread potentially catastrophic” ice storm from Texas to the Carolinas, describing an atmospheric river that could coat roads, trees and power lines with dangerous ice and stressing the lack of snow‑removal equipment in the South [13].

Dec 21, 2025 – The Weather Prediction Center updates its forecast, shifting the storm’s track northward and expanding the impact area, and Weather Channel meteorologist Stephanie Abrams calls the system “plan‑changing” as it stretches from Texas to the I‑95 corridor [12].

Dec 22, 2025 – An Arctic blast sweeps 30 states, bringing > 1 foot of snow to parts of Colorado, West Virginia and upstate New York, wind chills below –50 °F across the Northern Plains, and emergency declarations in Arkansas, Georgia, Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina; Texas Governor Greg Abbott assures residents there is “no expectation whatsoever” of a grid failure [3].

Dec 23, 2025 – A massive winter system places 182 million people under ice‑and‑snow watches and over 210 million under cold‑weather advisories, forces school closures, cancels thousands of flights, drives wind chills to –40 °F, and prompts FEMA to pre‑position 7 million meals, 600 k blankets and 300 generators; Governor Abbott again pledges that the 2021 Texas grid collapse will not recur [11].

Jan 11, 2026 – The National Weather Service issues winter storm warnings for Maine, Michigan and Alaska, projecting up to 9 inches of snow and gusts up to 45 mph, and advises residents to prepare power‑outage kits and carry winter‑storm survival gear in their vehicles [17].

Jan 16, 2026 – The Weather Prediction Center warns of dangerous snow squalls across the Plains and Upper Midwest, describing rapid visibility loss and gusty winds; a squall grounds flights at Chicago O’Hare and Midway and contributes to a 30‑vehicle pileup in northern Indiana [28].

Jan 19, 2026 – The NWS issues a snow‑squall warning for more than 1 million Pennsylvanians, urging drivers to delay travel or pull off the highway as whiteout conditions can develop within minutes, especially on I‑70, I‑80, I‑79, I‑376 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike [15].

Jan 19, 2026 – Winter storm warnings for parts of Michigan and New York predict up to 4 feet of snow in the Tug Hill region, 6‑12 inches along Route 28 in Herkimer County, and 10‑20 inches across western New York, with snowfall rates of up to 4 inches per hour and wind gusts up to 40 mph [16].

Jan 20, 2026 – NOAA’s Owen Shieh describes a “subzero Arctic air mass” pushing south and a cold front draping the Southern Plains, forecasting mixed rain, snow, freezing rain and sleet from Texas to the Carolinas, > 200 million Americans below 20 °F, and a 70‑80 % chance of ≥ 4 inches of snow with quarter‑inch ice accumulations [27].

Jan 21, 2026 – Forecasters at the Weather Prediction Center issue a fresh update that moves the storm’s projected track northward, warns of heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain from the Southern Rockies to the Mid‑South and East Coast, and cautions that “life‑threatening conditions” could appear in parts of Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee and Missouri [12].

Jan 22, 2026 – The Arctic cold wave again threatens 160 million Americans across 30 states, with > 1 foot of snow possible in Colorado to West Virginia, wind chills below –50 °F in the Northern Plains, and governors in Arkansas, Georgia, Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina activating emergency orders and National Guard resources [3].

Jan 23, 2026 – Nationwide alerts cover roughly 2 000 miles, placing 180 million people under ice‑and‑snow warnings and 210 million under cold‑weather advisories, while the NWS notes that a strong Arctic air mass will keep the Eastern U.S. frigid into the following week [9][10].

Jan 23, 2026 – The storm’s damage potential rivals a hurricane as ice and wind threaten power lines; 177 million people sit under ice/snow warnings, 200 million under cold‑weather advisories, schools close in the Midwest, and Texas deploys National Guard and extra utility crews to avoid a repeat of the 2021 grid failure [26].

Jan 24, 2026 – The National Weather Service warns that the extreme winter storm will begin Friday with heavy snow, freezing rain and sub‑zero temperatures, labeling conditions “extremely dangerous”; New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani deploys thousands of sanitation workers, 700 salt spreaders and 2 200 snow plows, while NWS meteorologists Rich Otto and Tony Fracasso say travel could be “nearly impossible during the peak of the storm” [1].

Jan 25, 2026 – CNN tracks a historic U.S. winter storm that spreads 6‑12 inches of snow and damaging ice across the Plains, Ohio Valley, Mid‑Atlantic and Northeast, while rapid temperature drops create record‑breaking cold and hundreds of thousands lose power [5].

Jan 25, 2026 – Massive winter‑storm alerts continue, with over 180 million under ice‑and‑snow watches and more than 210 million under cold‑weather advisories, prompting emergency managers to activate response plans and provide safety resources such as live webcams and travel‑kit checklists [9][10].

Jan 26, 2026 – Winter Storm Fern sweeps the U.S. and southern Canada, burying major cities under thick snow, breaking 24‑hour records with > 20 inches in the Northeast, causing > 500 000 power outages, and killing at least 20 people; forecasters warn of another major winter storm arriving Friday with further heavy precipitation [2].

Jan 27, 2026 – The Associated Press confirms the death toll rises to at least 30 storm‑related fatalities nationwide, including eight New York City residents found dead outdoors, a snowplow‑collision death in Norwood, Massachusetts, and multiple carbon‑monoxide and hypothermia deaths in Louisiana, underscoring the storm’s lethal breadth [8].

Jan 30, 2026 – A large system spans 14 states from the South to the Great Lakes, delivering 7‑12 inches of snow and 60‑mph gusts to coastal North Carolina and southeast Virginia, creating near‑whiteout conditions and prompting NWS warnings that travel may become “very difficult to impossible” through the weekend [7].

Feb 4, 2026 – The National Weather Service issues winter storm watches for West Virginia, western Maryland and Pennsylvania, forecasting 4‑7 inches of snow with 50‑mph gusts in Charleston and up to 6 inches with whiteout potential in Baltimore, while noting the system is less intense than the recent bomb cyclone but still dangerous [6].

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