Chicago – January 26, 2026
A massive and powerful winter storm is sweeping across nearly two-thirds of the United States, bringing heavy snowfall, hazardous ice, and dangerously cold temperatures. The extreme weather system is impacting tens of millions of residents, stretching from New Mexico all the way to New England.
As the storm intensified over the weekend, widespread power outages were reported across the southern states. By Sunday evening, close to one million customers were without electricity. Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas were among the states facing the most severe disruptions as ice accumulation damaged power lines and infrastructure.
The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings across a wide corridor from Missouri to Maine. Forecasters expressed particular concern over freezing rain and ice, which significantly increase the risk of accidents, travel disruptions, and prolonged power outages.
