DAMWeather

February 6, 2026

Powerful cold front to sweep East Coast with frigid air, damaging winds

A very strong cold front sinking south out of Canada will send dangerously cold temperatures and potentially damaging winds sweeping toward the East Coast to start the weekend.

This will likely be the coldest air of the season for some areas in line for the deep--albeit blissfully brief--chill.

High wind warnings and wind advisories are in effect across much of the Mid-Atlantic ahead of winds that could gust 60+ mph behind the cold front's passage late Friday into Saturday. Scattered tree damage and power outages are possible.

The big story, though, is the brutal cold expected this weekend. Low temperatures on Saturday morning will dip below zero across a large portion of the Great Lakes and Northeast.

Conditions won't warm up much during the day. Many areas expecting subzero temperatures Saturday morning will struggle to climb out of the single digits or teens during the day Saturday.

Washington, D.C., may only reach 18°F for a high on Saturday. Not only would that be the coldest temperature so far this season, but it would be the coldest high recorded there since January 16, 2009.

Scranton's forecast high of about 7°F would be the coldest maximum temperature there since the high only reached 6°F on January 7, 2014.

Temperatures will take a plunge again overnight Saturday into Sunday morning, with single digits across the Megalopolis and values at or below zero throughout the interior.

Bitterly cold temperatures are expected again Sunday before the upper-level trough finally moves off toward Atlantic Canada, allowing readings to rebound a bit to start the new week.

Want some good news? The freezing line could briefly retreat toward the Canadian border during the day Wednesday, providing a reprieve for communities in line to shiver through the next couple of days.

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February 3, 2026

Western U.S. snow drought reaches critical levels

Dennis Mersereau 2/03/2026 03:53:00 PM drought snow west Leave a Reply

While the eastern half of the United States basks-slash-suffers with above-average snowfall for the first time years, things aren't so rosy across the western half of the country.

The U.S. West is suffering from a historic snow drought right now.

Winter snows are life for the western states.

Not only is winter recreation a supporting economic pillar, but the region heavily relies on mountain snowpack for its water supply heading into the warmer months. Ample snowfall also provides critical hydration ahead of wildfire season.

Weather patterns across the West have been anything but favorable for snowfall this season.

Persistent ridges of high pressure have kept above-seasonal temperatures locked over the region. In fact, the northwestern, western, and southwestern climate regions recently experienced their warmest December in 131 years of recordkeeping. Average temperatures across the region came in 8-9°F above normal.

We've also seen numerous strong atmospheric rivers wash ashore. These surges of tropical moisture push warm temperatures inland, raising snow levels to the point where heavy rain falls high into the alpine.

As a result, snow cover throughout the western states is the lowest it's been in decades. The snow-water equivalent for the vast majority of the region was lower than 50 percent of normal at the start of February. Only a few spots in Wyoming, Montana, and central California kicked off the month with near-normal values.

The long-term outlook doesn't hold much news. NOAA's Climate Prediction Center calls for above-seasonal temperatures to persist through the end of this month and into the beginning of the spring.

February 2, 2026

Cold pattern has delivered snow to many eastern U.S. cities this season

Dennis Mersereau 2/02/2026 04:44:00 PM snow Leave a Reply

Many cities across the eastern half of the United States are experiencing near- or above-average snowfall totals for the first time in years.

Several sustained bursts of cold air over the past few months have provided plenty of opportunities for snowfall east of the Rockies.

A quick glance at the seasonal snowfall analysis above shows healthy snowfall totals for much of the contiguous United States so far this season.

We're just coming off a spell of three weekends in a row hosting major winter weather events.

This is the second year in a row they've recorded measurable snow in Florida--a rare feat when it happens once let alone twice. A few spots west of Tallahassee saw as much as an inch of snow on Sunday, Jan. 18.

A generational winter storm swept from Texas to Maine the following weekend, dropping significant amounts of snow and ice across an unusually large swath of the country. Boston wound up with 18.7" of snow in their largest storm in about four years.

This past weekend, another generational winter storm blanketed North Carolina with up to a foot-and-a-half of snowfall. Snowfall ground travel to a halt across communities still trying to get back to normal after the copious amount of sleet that fell the previous weekend.

All told, we're a few paces ahead of average in many cities across the east. Folks from St. Louis to Buffalo are running ahead of average through this point in the year.

The surplus may not last too much longer. February is traditionally the snowiest month of the year for much of the East Coast as nor'easters spring to life and clobber the region in heavy snows.

Current trends indicate that our below-seasonal temperatures may flip around heading into the second half of the month, which might put a damper on wintry precipitation potential through the climatological peak of the snowy season.

January 29, 2026

Major snow impacts expected in the Carolinas with weekend coastal storm

Dennis Mersereau 1/29/2026 10:51:00 AM Carolinas snow Leave a Reply

Another major winter storm is setting its sights on the Carolinas this weekend with widespread snowfall accumulations that can only be described as "hefty."

Call it the Spring Break Stealer of '26. Some kids had the entire week off from school after last weekend's sleet storm left a thick crust of glacial ice on secondary roads, parking lots, and sidewalks.

This next system all but guarantees that most of those kids will have at least a few extra snow days next week, as well, threatening to chomp into this year's spring break.

A significant low-pressure system expected to develop off the North Carolina coast on Friday night will set the stage for widespread snowfall throughout the Carolinas, southern Virginia, and northeastern Georgia.

Very cold temperatures throughout the atmosphere will make this a dry, fluffy snow that accumulates efficiently, so forecasters are calling for some unusually steep totals for this neck of the woods.

The opening bid from the National Weather Service on Thursday morning included:

Greensboro: 8 inches
Raleigh: 8 inches
Charlotte: 6 inches
Fayetteville: 8 inches
New Bern: 10 inches
Wilmington: 5 inches
Greenville (SC): 3 inches
Richmond: 3 inches
Norfolk: 10 inches

Like I said: hefty! These numbers will obviously change as we get closer to the event and forecasters get a better handle on the storm's ultimate track.

Personally, I'm curious about any potential dry air that might eat away at the snow before it reaches the ground at the beginning of the storm. We have a history of that happening around these parts, especially during the beginning stages of a system's development, and especially twice over when there's a bitterly cold Arctic airmass involved.

How cold? Check out those forecast high temperatures for Saturday.

This much snow, even if it is dry and fluffy, would have major impacts throughout the region. Travel will be extremely difficult on unplowed roads. Continued cold temperatures after the storm will make for slow melting on unmaintained surfaces.

Another complicating factor is that it's been a while since we've had this much snowfall.

If the forecast holds, this would be the biggest storm in Greensboro and Raleigh since December 2018. Charlotte hasn't picked up more than an inch of snow since January 2022, and they haven't had 3 inches or more in one go since January 2018.

We'll see how the forecast evolves over the next couple of days. Get ready.

January 27, 2026

Heavy snow possible with significant weekend East Coast storm

Dennis Mersereau 1/27/2026 10:53:00 AM snow winter storm Leave a Reply

The frigid pattern locked over the eastern United States may have one more trick up its sleeve this weekend in the form of a major coastal storm.

A potent upper-level low will swing south out of Canada late this week, bringing a renewed round of bitterly cold temperatures to the eastern half of the U.S.

A model image showing the potent trough in the upper atmosphere on Saturday afternoon. (Tropical Tidbits)

This trough will likely spawn a coastal low-pressure system around the Carolinas late Friday or early Saturday, which would then parallel the coast through the weekend as it moves toward the Canadian Maritimes.

A strengthening coastal storm with a bountiful reserve of cold air is a recipe for a potentially disruptive winter storm for many communities up and down the eastern seaboard.

The above graphic shows the Weather Prediction Center's probability of at least moderate winter weather impacts between 9:00 a.m. Saturday and 9:00 a.m. Sunday. The exact areas affected will obviously change as we get closer to the event, but this is a good proxy for where forecasters currently believe there's a potential for heavy snowfall this weekend.

The key to impacts from any coastal storm is track, track, track. The precise track of the eventual low-pressure system will determine who sees snow and how much falls.

A track too close to the coast and you'll get a messy mix with snow inland. One that stays too far offshore and the heaviest precipitation will stay over open waters. The details will grow clearer later this week as the event draws closer.

As always, keep an eye on the forecast and scout out a trusted local meteorologist (not a weather app, please) to guide you through the lead-up to this potentially impactful winter storm.

Either way, it's going to remain unseasonably cold into this weekend and possibly (likely?) into the first week of February.

Between the center of high pressure over the central U.S. and the winds blowing around our developing coastal storm, chilly temperatures will break through and make it all the way to southern Florida by Sunday morning. A forecast low of 26°F in Orlando would be the coldest temperature there since December 2010.

January 26, 2026

800,000+ power outages continue amid dangerously cold temperatures

Dennis Mersereau 1/26/2026 11:38:00 AM ice power outages snow Leave a Reply

Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses remained without power early Monday after a major snow and ice storm swept across the United States.

Data collected by PowerOutage.US showed more than 800,000 outages continuing across the southern U.S. as of 11:00 a.m. Eastern on Monday, which is down from the peak of about 1,000,000 outages reported midday Sunday.

Most of the outages are concentrated from eastern Texas northeastward through southern Kentucky, where a devastating ice storm unfolded this weekend. Widespread ice accretions of 0.50"+ knocked down countless trees and power lines throughout the region. Several locations in northern Mississippi saw 1.0" of ice accretion. Tree damage in Oxford, Miss., is in the picture at the top of this post.

Temperatures will fall dangerously low overnight Monday into Tuesday morning. The National Weather Service's forecast low for Oxford, Miss., is -3°F. Around 75% of residents in Oxford's home county have no power today.

Luckily, we escaped a similar fate in the Carolinas by the skin of our teeth. Temperatures aloft stayed just a hair too cold for damaging amounts of freezing rain. Most of our precipitation fell as sleet instead, with areas that saw freezing rain not seeing enough to cause significant problems.

That said, some communities in northeastern Georgia and northwestern South Carolina did see up to 0.75" of freezing rain, which has caused thousands of power outages in that area.

The snowy side of the system largely lived up to its promise, as well.

A swath of 6-12"+ of snow fell from Oklahoma to Maine. Tulsa wound up with 8.7" of accumulation. Indianapolis ended up with around 10". Boston's Logan Airport reported a storm total of 18.7", making for their largest storm in about four years.

Areas in between the snow and ice saw extensive sleet accumulations. The picture above is what my apartment complex's parking lot looks like right now in central North Carolina...and it's what all of our roads look like, as well.

Sleet is dense and freezes into a sheet of glacial ice. This slab of ice is slow to melt and nearly impossible to remove once it freezes solid.

Anyone who saw several inches of accumulating sleet can expect very difficult travel for the next couple of days, as the ice will struggle to melt amid frigid nights and daytime highs barely above freezing.

[Top photo via City of Oxford on Facebook]

January 21, 2026

Dangerous winter storm's blackouts will coincide with life-threatening cold

Dennis Mersereau 1/21/2026 02:59:00 PM ice snow winter storm Leave a Reply

Widespread heavy snow and prolific amounts of freezing rain are all but certain heading into this weekend.

This will be a dangerous and potentially life-threatening winter storm from the Plains to the Mid-Atlantic.

Many of the communities expecting all snow may measure accumulation in feet instead of inches. This will make travel impossible for a time during and after the storm. Plows in the hardest-hit areas may not reach side streets and neighborhoods for several days after the storm. Expect school closures through much of next week.

It's the ice storm potential that makes this event exceptionally hazardous.

Ice accretion of just 0.25" is enough to damage trees and power lines. Strain from the weight of solid ice only grows from there, and we get into "crippling ice storm" territory once accretions reach 0.50" or greater.

Widespread ice accretions of 0.50", and possibly up to 1.00", are possible from northern Texas to North Carolina in areas that remain predominantly freezing rain throughout this event.

The resulting jacket of ice on exposed surfaces will make simply getting into vehicles next to impossible.

Countless trees and tree limbs will succumb to the heavy coating, snapping and falling to the ground in a seemingly endless chorus of eerie booms.

Falling trees will knock down power lines. The lines themselves, as well as the wooden poles on which they're strung, may simply snap under the weight of the ice.

Power outages will be extensive, potentially numbering in the millions, and they will be long-lasting. Similar ice storms have left communities without electricity for a week or longer. The sheer scope of this ice storm will stretch power companies thin, potentially making restoration times take even longer.

And then we get to the frigid temperatures expected during and after the storm.

Temperatures across many of the areas expecting heavy snow and ice will stay around or below freezing through early next week. The combination of protracted blackouts and extremely cold temperatures will subject vulnerable people to hypothermia and frostbite. The risk for carbon monoxide poisoning from improper use of things like grills, generators, and heaters is extremely high in a situation like this.

If you're in an area that may see freezing rain, make sure you're prepared for power outages that will hinder your ability to prepare food, keeping in mind that restaurants and grocery stores will likely close without electricity. Wash your blankets and heavy clothes so they're ready for use if you lose heating. Have actual, physical flashlights and battery replacements on hand so you don't drain your cell phone battery trying to see in the dark.

January 20, 2026

North Carolina, Virginia snow droughts may soon come to an end

Dennis Mersereau 1/20/2026 03:45:00 PM snow Leave a Reply

The significant snow drought we've seen across the Mid-Atlantic and North Carolina in recent years may meet its match in the winter storm that's brewing for this weekend.

While it's still too soon to call out exact precipitation types and amounts, the pattern as of now appears favorable for someone somewhere in the region to experience a memorable snowstorm.

Where might a high-end storm rank in recent history, and in the record books? For starters, it's been a long while since many areas have seen a solid thump of snow.

Cities from Philadelphia to Charlotte have seen below-average snowfall totals more often than not over the past decade.

Greensboro, North Carolina, hasn't seen more than 4 inches of snow in one storm since December 2018.

Richmond, Virginia, hasn't seen more than 6 inches of snow since the same 2018 storm.

Washington, D.C., experienced a few decent snows last winter, making for its first above-average season in six years. But the capital city hasn't seen 8 inches or more in one storm since January 2019, and it's been more than 14 years since the last time a foot of snow fell on Washington-National Airport.

All-time totals are a generational affair. You'll notice some of the dates on the above chart if you're a hardcore weather geek. The blizzard of January 1996 features prominently, as does the infamous blizzard of 2016. March 1927 is arguably North Carolina's largest-ever snowstorm.

We'll know more by tomorrow and Thursday if this is shaping up to be more than just a disruptive event.