Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, the Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic States Brace for Late-January Winter Storm With Snow, Ice and Dangerous Cold

UNITED STATES — A broad and increasingly complex winter weather pattern is setting up across the central and eastern United States, with multiple forecast signals pointing to a high-impact storm window from late this week through next weekend. Updated snowfall probability maps, ensemble guidance and the national 3–7 Day Hazards Outlook all indicate a wide corridor of risk stretching from Texas and Oklahoma through the Tennessee Valley, the Carolinas, and into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, bringing the potential for heavy snow, freezing rain and hazardous cold.

A Multi-Day, Multi-Hazard Setup Is Coming Together

Forecast guidance shows very cold air remaining entrenched across much of the country, with only brief temperature moderation midweek before another surge of Arctic air arrives. This sets the stage for wintry precipitation to develop as moisture rides over the cold surface layer.

Hazards maps valid from January 23 through January 27 highlight overlapping threats:

• Hazardous cold across the Plains, Midwest, and Southeast
• Heavy snow from parts of Texas eastward into the Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic and New England
• Freezing rain focused from eastern Texas through Arkansas, Tennessee and into the Carolinas

The overlap of freezing rain and heavy snow zones is especially concerning, as even small shifts in storm track or temperature profiles could dramatically change local impacts.

Where Heavy Snow Is Most Likely

Snow probability graphics show a long, narrow swath where 6 inches or more of snowfall is possible, extending from southern Oklahoma and northern Texas through Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina and into the Mid-Atlantic.

Current probabilities suggest:

• Around 10% chances of 6+ inches near parts of Texas
• 30% chances through portions of the Lower Mississippi and Tennessee Valleys
• Up to 50% chances from the southern Appalachians into the Mid-Atlantic

Forecasters stress that these values represent chance, not certainty. Ensemble modeling is being used to capture a wide range of outcomes, and the axis of heaviest snow is expected to shift as the event draws closer.

Ice Risk Raises Concerns in the Carolinas and Tennessee Valley

In addition to snow, freezing rain is a growing concern—particularly across eastern Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, northern Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. The national hazards outlook places the freezing rain threat directly within the heavy snow corridor, increasing the risk for:

• Downed trees and power lines
• Travel disruptions due to ice-covered roads
• Localized power outages, especially where ice accretion combines with gusty winds

Even modest ice accumulations can have outsized impacts when paired with persistent cold.

Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Watching the Weekend Closely

Probability maps from the Mid-Atlantic show steadily increasing confidence in a disruptive weekend storm, especially from Saturday night through Sunday night. Cities from Washington, D.C. to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City and southern New England currently sit in zones with moderate to high probabilities for impactful snowfall.

While exact totals remain uncertain, forecast messaging emphasizes that details on timing, precipitation type and accumulation will sharpen later this week as higher-resolution models come into focus.

Cold Air Will Not Be Leaving Anytime Soon

Even outside the main storm window, dangerous cold remains a key part of this pattern. Large areas of the central and eastern U.S. are forecast to stay well below seasonal averages, increasing risks related to:

• Prolonged icy conditions
• Refreezing of melted snow and slush
• Stress on infrastructure and energy demand

This cold backdrop increases the likelihood that precipitation falls as snow or ice rather than rain.

What To Watch Next

Meteorologists caution that this is not a locked-in forecast, but the consistency of signals across multiple datasets is notable. Over the next few days, key factors to monitor include:

• Shifts in the storm track north or south
• Temperature trends near the surface, especially overnight
• Refinement of freezing rain versus snow zones

Residents across the central, southern and eastern U.S. should begin preparing for possible travel disruptions and rapidly changing winter conditions.

Stay tuned to Cabarrusweekly.com for continued winter weather updates, forecast refinements, and impact-focused coverage as this developing storm system comes into clearer view.