SPC Day 3-8 Fire Weather Outlook
Day 3-8 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0256 PM CST Thu Jan 22 2026 Valid 241200Z - 301200Z ...Synopsis... A dynamic mid-level trough and attendant large scale ascent will move across the Southern U.S. through early next week while a surface trough across south TX on Day 3/Saturday translates eastward evolves into a deepening surface low before reaching the East Coast on Day 5/Monday. A relatively shallow cold air mass in place across the Southern U.S. will yield a widespread mix of precipitation, stretching from the Southwestern to the Northeast by early next week. This coupled with lingering cold temperatures, surface high pressure and persistent mean upper-level troughing will likely limit fire weather concerns across the eastern U.S. An upper-level ridge building back over the western U.S. will maintain primarily dry conditions over the Desert Southwest with above normal temperatures returning to much of the region by next week. Although some breezy north winds aligning with low relative humidity could occur Day 4/Sunday with the passage of a cold front, overall fuels remains largely unreceptive, precluding introduction of critical probabilities at this time. ..Williams.. 01/22/2026 ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... Read more

SPC Day 3-8 Fire Weather Outlook
Day 3-8 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0256 PM CST Thu Jan 22 2026 Valid 241200Z - 301200Z ...Synopsis... A dynamic mid-level trough and attendant large scale ascent will move across the Southern U.S. through early next week while a surface trough across south TX on Day 3/Saturday translates eastward evolves into a deepening surface low before reaching the East Coast on Day 5/Monday. A relatively shallow cold air mass in place across the Southern U.S. will yield a widespread mix of precipitation, stretching from the Southwestern to the Northeast by early next week. This coupled with lingering cold temperatures, surface high pressure and persistent mean upper-level troughing will likely limit fire weather concerns across the eastern U.S. An upper-level ridge building back over the western U.S. will maintain primarily dry conditions over the Desert Southwest with above normal temperatures returning to much of the region by next week. Although some breezy north winds aligning with low relative humidity could occur Day 4/Sunday with the passage of a cold front, overall fuels remains largely unreceptive, precluding introduction of critical probabilities at this time. ..Williams.. 01/22/2026 ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... Read more

SPC Day 3-8 Fire Weather Outlook
Day 3-8 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0256 PM CST Thu Jan 22 2026 Valid 241200Z - 301200Z ...Synopsis... A dynamic mid-level trough and attendant large scale ascent will move across the Southern U.S. through early next week while a surface trough across south TX on Day 3/Saturday translates eastward evolves into a deepening surface low before reaching the East Coast on Day 5/Monday. A relatively shallow cold air mass in place across the Southern U.S. will yield a widespread mix of precipitation, stretching from the Southwestern to the Northeast by early next week. This coupled with lingering cold temperatures, surface high pressure and persistent mean upper-level troughing will likely limit fire weather concerns across the eastern U.S. An upper-level ridge building back over the western U.S. will maintain primarily dry conditions over the Desert Southwest with above normal temperatures returning to much of the region by next week. Although some breezy north winds aligning with low relative humidity could occur Day 4/Sunday with the passage of a cold front, overall fuels remains largely unreceptive, precluding introduction of critical probabilities at this time. ..Williams.. 01/22/2026 ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... Read more

SPC Day 3-8 Fire Weather Outlook
Day 3-8 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0256 PM CST Thu Jan 22 2026 Valid 241200Z - 301200Z ...Synopsis... A dynamic mid-level trough and attendant large scale ascent will move across the Southern U.S. through early next week while a surface trough across south TX on Day 3/Saturday translates eastward evolves into a deepening surface low before reaching the East Coast on Day 5/Monday. A relatively shallow cold air mass in place across the Southern U.S. will yield a widespread mix of precipitation, stretching from the Southwestern to the Northeast by early next week. This coupled with lingering cold temperatures, surface high pressure and persistent mean upper-level troughing will likely limit fire weather concerns across the eastern U.S. An upper-level ridge building back over the western U.S. will maintain primarily dry conditions over the Desert Southwest with above normal temperatures returning to much of the region by next week. Although some breezy north winds aligning with low relative humidity could occur Day 4/Sunday with the passage of a cold front, overall fuels remains largely unreceptive, precluding introduction of critical probabilities at this time. ..Williams.. 01/22/2026 ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... Read more

SPC Day 3-8 Fire Weather Outlook
Day 3-8 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0256 PM CST Thu Jan 22 2026 Valid 241200Z - 301200Z ...Synopsis... A dynamic mid-level trough and attendant large scale ascent will move across the Southern U.S. through early next week while a surface trough across south TX on Day 3/Saturday translates eastward evolves into a deepening surface low before reaching the East Coast on Day 5/Monday. A relatively shallow cold air mass in place across the Southern U.S. will yield a widespread mix of precipitation, stretching from the Southwestern to the Northeast by early next week. This coupled with lingering cold temperatures, surface high pressure and persistent mean upper-level troughing will likely limit fire weather concerns across the eastern U.S. An upper-level ridge building back over the western U.S. will maintain primarily dry conditions over the Desert Southwest with above normal temperatures returning to much of the region by next week. Although some breezy north winds aligning with low relative humidity could occur Day 4/Sunday with the passage of a cold front, overall fuels remains largely unreceptive, precluding introduction of critical probabilities at this time. ..Williams.. 01/22/2026 ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... Read more

Extreme cold expands as forecasters eye possible East Coast storm this weekend Get the latest from NOAA's National Weather Service

Snowstorm. (Image credit: iStock)

Download Image January 22, 2026

Forecasters at NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS) continue to track the impacts of an unusually large and severe winter storm that brought heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain to hundreds of millions of Americans over the weekend and continues into the Northeast this week.

Dangerously cold air remains in the forecast for more than half of the U.S. population through the middle of this week. The combination of significant snow and ice accumulations and frigid weather could cause power outages and icy roads to linger longer than usual after a typical winter storm.

Well-below-normal temperatures will continue for the eastern half of the Lower 48 states this week. Another blast of arctic air will spread from the Plains through the East/Southeast Friday into Saturday with more record lows expected even into Florida. Forecasts are being monitored for increasing potential of another significant winter storm to impact the eastern U.S. this coming weekend. 

Prepare now

For the latest on this powerful winter storm, go to weather.gov and input in your Zip Code or City, State to access hazardous weather alerts, as well as the latest forecast from the local National Weather Service office in your area. 

Visit NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center for the latest key messages on this winter storm and its impacts. 

Make sure you have on hand at least a few days worth of food, water, medications and other basic necessities for yourself, your family and your pets to sufficiently ride out the storm. Check out the NWS Safety Page for resources and tips on staying safe in extreme cold, ice, snow and other winter weather conditions. 

Stay connected on social

Join NOAA’s NWS on social media to stay up to date on the latest weather developments:

• Find @NWS on X , on Bluesky at nws.noaa.gov, on Facebook and on Instagram.
• Find and follow your local NOAA National Weather Service forecast office on social media.

More from other federal agencies

What FEMA is doing
https://www.fema.gov/2026-winter-storm

What the U.S. government is doing
https://www.usa.gov/2026-winter-storm

UPDATED: January 27, 2026. This article has been updated with latest forecast developments Weather winter storm severe weather forecasts 0 Off

ARRL is excited to announce that the 2026 edition of The ARRL Repeater Directory® is once again powered by RepeaterBook, amateur radio’s worldwide repeater database. New for 2026, The Repeater Directory features a City Quick Find Index, making it faster and easier than ever to locate nearby repeaters.

“Each year The ARRL Repeater Directory continues to set the standard for trusted repeater infor...

SPC 2000Z Day 1 Outlook
Day 1 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0153 PM CST Thu Jan 22 2026 Valid 222000Z - 231200Z ...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST... ...SUMMARY... Isolated thunderstorms will be possible across southeast Florida today, but severe thunderstorms are not expected. No changes have been made to the ongoing forecast. ..Hart.. 01/22/2026 .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 0955 AM CST Thu Jan 22 2026/ ...SE FL... A weak surface boundary lies just offshore along the southeast FL coast. Scattered showers and a few thunderstorms will persist along this boundary through early evening as an upper trough progresses across the region. This threat should weaken after dark. No severe storms are expected. Read more

SPC 2000Z Day 1 Outlook
Day 1 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0153 PM CST Thu Jan 22 2026 Valid 222000Z - 231200Z ...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST... ...SUMMARY... Isolated thunderstorms will be possible across southeast Florida today, but severe thunderstorms are not expected. No changes have been made to the ongoing forecast. ..Hart.. 01/22/2026 .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 0955 AM CST Thu Jan 22 2026/ ...SE FL... A weak surface boundary lies just offshore along the southeast FL coast. Scattered showers and a few thunderstorms will persist along this boundary through early evening as an upper trough progresses across the region. This threat should weaken after dark. No severe storms are expected. Read more

SPC 2000Z Day 1 Outlook
Day 1 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0153 PM CST Thu Jan 22 2026 Valid 222000Z - 231200Z ...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST... ...SUMMARY... Isolated thunderstorms will be possible across southeast Florida today, but severe thunderstorms are not expected. No changes have been made to the ongoing forecast. ..Hart.. 01/22/2026 .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 0955 AM CST Thu Jan 22 2026/ ...SE FL... A weak surface boundary lies just offshore along the southeast FL coast. Scattered showers and a few thunderstorms will persist along this boundary through early evening as an upper trough progresses across the region. This threat should weaken after dark. No severe storms are expected. Read more

SPC 2000Z Day 1 Outlook
Day 1 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0153 PM CST Thu Jan 22 2026 Valid 222000Z - 231200Z ...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST... ...SUMMARY... Isolated thunderstorms will be possible across southeast Florida today, but severe thunderstorms are not expected. No changes have been made to the ongoing forecast. ..Hart.. 01/22/2026 .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 0955 AM CST Thu Jan 22 2026/ ...SE FL... A weak surface boundary lies just offshore along the southeast FL coast. Scattered showers and a few thunderstorms will persist along this boundary through early evening as an upper trough progresses across the region. This threat should weaken after dark. No severe storms are expected. Read more

SPC 2000Z Day 1 Outlook
Day 1 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0153 PM CST Thu Jan 22 2026 Valid 222000Z - 231200Z ...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST... ...SUMMARY... Isolated thunderstorms will be possible across southeast Florida today, but severe thunderstorms are not expected. No changes have been made to the ongoing forecast. ..Hart.. 01/22/2026 .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 0955 AM CST Thu Jan 22 2026/ ...SE FL... A weak surface boundary lies just offshore along the southeast FL coast. Scattered showers and a few thunderstorms will persist along this boundary through early evening as an upper trough progresses across the region. This threat should weaken after dark. No severe storms are expected. Read more

SPC Day 2 Fire Weather Outlook
Day 2 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0133 PM CST Thu Jan 22 2026 Valid 231200Z - 241200Z ...NO CRITICAL AREAS... Minimal fire weather concerns are expected across the contiguous U.S. Friday as a strong cold front moves into the Southern U.S. Expansive cloud cover and onset of precipitation across the Southwest and central/southern Plains ahead of an impactful mid-level trough will further mitigate the fire weather threat. ..Williams.. 01/22/2026 .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1153 PM CST Wed Jan 21 2026/ ...Synopsis... An arctic air mass will infiltrate the CONUS, precluding fire-weather concerns. ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... Read more

SPC Day 2 Fire Weather Outlook
Day 2 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0133 PM CST Thu Jan 22 2026 Valid 231200Z - 241200Z ...NO CRITICAL AREAS... Minimal fire weather concerns are expected across the contiguous U.S. Friday as a strong cold front moves into the Southern U.S. Expansive cloud cover and onset of precipitation across the Southwest and central/southern Plains ahead of an impactful mid-level trough will further mitigate the fire weather threat. ..Williams.. 01/22/2026 .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1153 PM CST Wed Jan 21 2026/ ...Synopsis... An arctic air mass will infiltrate the CONUS, precluding fire-weather concerns. ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... Read more

SPC Day 2 Fire Weather Outlook
Day 2 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0133 PM CST Thu Jan 22 2026 Valid 231200Z - 241200Z ...NO CRITICAL AREAS... Minimal fire weather concerns are expected across the contiguous U.S. Friday as a strong cold front moves into the Southern U.S. Expansive cloud cover and onset of precipitation across the Southwest and central/southern Plains ahead of an impactful mid-level trough will further mitigate the fire weather threat. ..Williams.. 01/22/2026 .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1153 PM CST Wed Jan 21 2026/ ...Synopsis... An arctic air mass will infiltrate the CONUS, precluding fire-weather concerns. ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... Read more

SPC Day 2 Fire Weather Outlook
Day 2 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0133 PM CST Thu Jan 22 2026 Valid 231200Z - 241200Z ...NO CRITICAL AREAS... Minimal fire weather concerns are expected across the contiguous U.S. Friday as a strong cold front moves into the Southern U.S. Expansive cloud cover and onset of precipitation across the Southwest and central/southern Plains ahead of an impactful mid-level trough will further mitigate the fire weather threat. ..Williams.. 01/22/2026 .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1153 PM CST Wed Jan 21 2026/ ...Synopsis... An arctic air mass will infiltrate the CONUS, precluding fire-weather concerns. ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... Read more

SPC Day 2 Fire Weather Outlook
Day 2 Fire Weather Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0133 PM CST Thu Jan 22 2026 Valid 231200Z - 241200Z ...NO CRITICAL AREAS... Minimal fire weather concerns are expected across the contiguous U.S. Friday as a strong cold front moves into the Southern U.S. Expansive cloud cover and onset of precipitation across the Southwest and central/southern Plains ahead of an impactful mid-level trough will further mitigate the fire weather threat. ..Williams.. 01/22/2026 .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1153 PM CST Wed Jan 21 2026/ ...Synopsis... An arctic air mass will infiltrate the CONUS, precluding fire-weather concerns. ...Please see www.spc.noaa.gov/fire for graphic product... Read more

SPC 1930Z Day 3 Outlook
Day 3 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0114 PM CST Thu Jan 22 2026 Valid 241200Z - 251200Z ...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST... ...SUMMARY... The risk for severe thunderstorms appears negligible across the U.S. Saturday through Saturday night. ...Discussion... Downstream of amplified split flow across the Pacific into western North America, models indicate that several short wave troughs will gradually consolidate into larger-scale mid-level troughing across the Rockies and Great Plains into Mississippi Valley during this period. This is likely to include at least a couple of merging perturbations of Canadian Arctic origin digging across the international border through the northern U.S. Rockies and Great Plains, and another emerging from the northern mid-latitude Pacific before digging inland across the Pacific Northwest coast through the Great Basin. Yet another impulse, emerging from the southern mid-latitude eastern Pacific, is generally forecast to accelerate across Baja and the northern Mexican Plateau, into the southern Great Plains by late Saturday night. Preceded by the southeastward development of an expansive cold surface ridge across much of the nation to the east of the Rockies, as far south as the Gulf coast vicinity, the potential for significant lee surface cyclogenesis appears low through this period. However, latest guidance appears generally consistent indicating modestly deepening surface troughing, accompanying erosion of the cold air, in one corridor across the lower Mississippi Valley toward the lower Ohio Valley, and another near/offshore of the Carolina coast by late Saturday night. Associated destabilization still appears likely to remain elevated, and generally weak, in nature inland of northwestern and central Gulf coastal areas, with negligible risk for severe weather through at least 12Z Sunday. ..Kerr.. 01/22/2026 Read more

SPC 1930Z Day 3 Outlook
Day 3 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0114 PM CST Thu Jan 22 2026 Valid 241200Z - 251200Z ...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST... ...SUMMARY... The risk for severe thunderstorms appears negligible across the U.S. Saturday through Saturday night. ...Discussion... Downstream of amplified split flow across the Pacific into western North America, models indicate that several short wave troughs will gradually consolidate into larger-scale mid-level troughing across the Rockies and Great Plains into Mississippi Valley during this period. This is likely to include at least a couple of merging perturbations of Canadian Arctic origin digging across the international border through the northern U.S. Rockies and Great Plains, and another emerging from the northern mid-latitude Pacific before digging inland across the Pacific Northwest coast through the Great Basin. Yet another impulse, emerging from the southern mid-latitude eastern Pacific, is generally forecast to accelerate across Baja and the northern Mexican Plateau, into the southern Great Plains by late Saturday night. Preceded by the southeastward development of an expansive cold surface ridge across much of the nation to the east of the Rockies, as far south as the Gulf coast vicinity, the potential for significant lee surface cyclogenesis appears low through this period. However, latest guidance appears generally consistent indicating modestly deepening surface troughing, accompanying erosion of the cold air, in one corridor across the lower Mississippi Valley toward the lower Ohio Valley, and another near/offshore of the Carolina coast by late Saturday night. Associated destabilization still appears likely to remain elevated, and generally weak, in nature inland of northwestern and central Gulf coastal areas, with negligible risk for severe weather through at least 12Z Sunday. ..Kerr.. 01/22/2026 Read more

SPC 1930Z Day 3 Outlook
Day 3 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0114 PM CST Thu Jan 22 2026 Valid 241200Z - 251200Z ...NO SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AREAS FORECAST... ...SUMMARY... The risk for severe thunderstorms appears negligible across the U.S. Saturday through Saturday night. ...Discussion... Downstream of amplified split flow across the Pacific into western North America, models indicate that several short wave troughs will gradually consolidate into larger-scale mid-level troughing across the Rockies and Great Plains into Mississippi Valley during this period. This is likely to include at least a couple of merging perturbations of Canadian Arctic origin digging across the international border through the northern U.S. Rockies and Great Plains, and another emerging from the northern mid-latitude Pacific before digging inland across the Pacific Northwest coast through the Great Basin. Yet another impulse, emerging from the southern mid-latitude eastern Pacific, is generally forecast to accelerate across Baja and the northern Mexican Plateau, into the southern Great Plains by late Saturday night. Preceded by the southeastward development of an expansive cold surface ridge across much of the nation to the east of the Rockies, as far south as the Gulf coast vicinity, the potential for significant lee surface cyclogenesis appears low through this period. However, latest guidance appears generally consistent indicating modestly deepening surface troughing, accompanying erosion of the cold air, in one corridor across the lower Mississippi Valley toward the lower Ohio Valley, and another near/offshore of the Carolina coast by late Saturday night. Associated destabilization still appears likely to remain elevated, and generally weak, in nature inland of northwestern and central Gulf coastal areas, with negligible risk for severe weather through at least 12Z Sunday. ..Kerr.. 01/22/2026 Read more