Millions of Americans across more than half of the U.S. are bracing for what is expected to be a severe winter storm over the weekend, beginning Friday, Jan. 23.
According to the National Weather Service's latest forecast, there's a chance for more than 6 inches of snow to fall from New Mexico through the Texas panhandle and into the Mississippi Valley through Sunday, Jan. 25. Areas around the Ohio Valley could see upwards of 8 to 10 inches within the same time frame, while areas north of Virginia could see 6 to 12 inches by Sunday.
Freezing rain and sleet are also expected to pound the Southern Plains, the Mid-South, Tennessee Valley and the southern Mid-Atlantic.
While some of the more northern regions may see the incoming, dangerous cold and sleet as a familiar, if unpleasant, part of winter, southern states that are less equipped for the cold are also anticipating frigid temperatures and inches of snowfall.
Meteorologists have, luckily, said they don't expect this weekend's storm to be as devastating as others in recent Southern history, like the 2021 Texas freeze or the bitterly cold winter storm that battered New Orleans in January 2025. Still, thousands of people have taken to prepping for the worst-case scenario, buying out stores and fortifying their homes.
