A significant winter weather event has been impacting various regions of the United States, characterized by heavy snow, freezing rain, and extreme cold temperatures. The National Weather Service issued storm warnings across twenty-six states, extending from Texas to Massachusetts, with alerts remaining in effect. This weather system has resulted in widespread travel disruption.
Impacts include heavy snowfall, with some areas like New York and Philadelphia recording 30-50cm. Freezing rain led to approximately 2.5cm of ice accumulation in parts of Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky, contributing to power line issues. Extreme cold is spreading southward, with temperatures as low as -20C reported in sections of Texas. Additionally, forecasters have highlighted an unusual hazard: "exploding" trees, a phenomenon where rapid freezing causes internal pressure to split wood and bark.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/jan/26/us-winter-storms-snow-ice-freezing-latest-news-updates