Blizzard-Ice Storm January 23-26, 2026

[Bob902]

It looks like souther MO is going to get hit good. I'm so glad we're not in Arkansas now! It looks like a good 8" of snow but they're right in the pink for ice too.

Every time I check, they keep moving the snow band farther north. guess we will know by Sunday afternoon

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[IdahoRanger]

Every time I check, they keep moving the snow band farther north. guess we will know by Sunday afternoon

Weather, always subject to change until it gets there. Be Safe Bob.

 

[Burnt Money]

Local news says we’re “supposed” to only get rain with a slight chance of ice. High to mid 60’s next 2 days. Then cold rain I feel for everyone going to get hammered by ice. That’s going to be a mess with downed trees and power outages.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Severe weather is nothing to take lightly, especially in areas that are not prepared for it. If you have to drive, have a winter survival kit. Water, snacks, blanket or moving quilt, winter clothes, boots, gloves, hat, etc. You should have a shovel - not just to get you unstuck but if you’re totally stuck but can still run your truck to stay warm, you need to clear snow away from the exhaust because of CO. If your truck can’t run, a candle or two can keep the cab above freezing. Top up your gas tank before heading out and keep your phone charged. Charge your jump pack if you have one - they often have a USB port. You should also have a first aid kit - you should always have one but here’s your reason to get one now.

In some cases, people can be stuck in their vehicles for a day or more. All emergency services will likely be overwhelmed and the USCG could be grounded. I have seen storms where it took days to dig a path through the snow with heavy equipment to get to dozens of cars that were caught in a pile up and became drifted over.

Here’s hoping you never need the stuff and you’re all safe.

 

[AzScorpion]

Local news says we’re “supposed” to only get rain with a slight chance of ice. High to mid 60’s next 2 days. Then cold rain I feel for everyone going to get hammered by ice. That’s going to be a mess with downed trees and power outages.

You should (hopefully) be good where you are. This storm has changed so many times in the last couple days its best to keep a good eye on it. North Carolina now looks like it could get a lot of ice and I feel bad for those who are still recovering from the hurricane there a couple years ago.

 

[JaysOnTheEDGE]

Eastern NC 90 minutes south of Raleigh; the models are changing hourly. We'll see

 

[IdahoRanger]

Severe weather is nothing to take lightly, especially in areas that are not prepared for it. If you have to drive, have a winter survival kit. Water, snacks, blanket or moving quilt, winter clothes, boots, gloves, hat, etc. You should have a shovel - not just to get you unstuck but if you’re totally stuck but can still run your truck to stay warm, you need to clear snow away from the exhaust because of CO. If your truck can’t run, a candle or two can keep the cab above freezing. Top up your gas tank before heading out and keep your phone charged. Charge your jump pack if you have one - they often have a USB port. You should also have a first aid kit - you should always have one but here’s your reason to get one now.

In some cases, people can be stuck in their vehicles for a day or more. All emergency services will likely be overwhelmed and the USCG could be grounded. I have seen storms where it took days to dig a path through the snow with heavy equipment to get to dozens of cars that were caught in a pile up and became drifted over.

Here’s hoping you never need the stuff and you’re all safe.

Duke, great advice. We add a tin can to put the candles in.

 

[CTYankee]

Current forecast for central MA is "AT LEAST" 8-12" of snow with -10 to -20 wind chill temps. I guess my new plow will get a workout this weekend.

 

[Black Knight]

The weather here in north Houston is predicted to be freezing rain and sleet and maybe snow late Saturday and all day Sunday and into Monday.
The high for Sunday is, as of today 30 degrees.
That is according to the weather guessers.
Luckily I don't have to work this weekend, but I have to work on Monday, we'll see how it goes.
Stay safe out there.

 

[Bob902]

 

[Big Blue]

You guys in the middle tier states have my sympathy. Your not use to or prepared to handle this.

By me in East Central Wisconsin we are only predicted to have cold (Sub-Zero temps and -30 to maybe -40 degree wind chills) weather. Nothing we don't occasionally experience. Too cold to snow. I being retired will just bundle up, sit by my fireplace and TV. Keep track of how Mother Nature is messing with the rest of the country. Friday is predicted to be the only bad day for us. Kids will probably get the day off from school. After the last couple weeks of January thaw we don't even have enough snow left to make a snowman.

Stay safe and stay warm.

 

[Msfitoy]

Forecast yesterday for Saturday was 18 inches...I was ready to go blasting down the highway median like the old days in Michigan...today it dropped to 4"...bummer...

 

[LaBalbe]

You should (hopefully) be good where you are. This storm has changed so many times in the last couple days its best to keep a good eye on it. North Carolina now looks like it could get a lot of ice and I feel bad for those who are still recovering from the hurricane there a couple years ago.

That was barely 18 months ago. September '24.


For those not so experienced, avoiding to drive on ice is the single best policy. However, the necessities of life (food, water, medication, etc.) might lead you to a situation where you have to face the icy road. In this case, this is the best way to do so:

1) You'll want 4WD or at least AWD. 4WD is better in this case, because it is proactive rather than reactive. Keep in mind that not all trucks and SUVs are 4 wheel drive or all wheel drive. Unless it's a Subaru, 4WD or AWD is an OPTION and not standard.

2) If you don't have winter tires (and no, this does not include so-called "all-season tires", which are really "three-season" only) the next best thing is to have chains which can be attached to the drive tires for a bit of added traction. These will beat up your tires and the road in the long term, though. You'll notice that people in northern climates rarely, if ever, use chains, but then we mostly switch between summer and winter tires.

3) Once the vehicle is properly kitted, the only thing that the human in this equation can do is KEEP CALM and GO SLOW. Most importantly, always remember that both 4WD and AWD help with GO, but neither does anything to improve STOP.

4) If the road looks frosty, that's actually not a bad thing. That means that there's some snow and frost crystals on the surface which, much like sand, will slightly improve traction.
If the road is black and shiny, like obsidian, that's when it's at its most treacherous because you risk black ice. This is actually more likely to happen when the weather is hovering at or above freezing, because the ice is constantly melting and freezing. For that same reason, it's also far more brittle and more likely to break up under the weight of a vehicle, further reducing traction.

5) Keep calm and look where you want to go, not at what you want to avoid, especially if you're experiencing loss of traction. If you panic or stare at that snowbank you will absolutely plow right into it. Breathe, look at where you do want to end up and GENTLY apply pressure to the gas and/or brakes, as necessary. Any abrupt acceleration or deceleration is just rolling out the red carpet for disaster.

 

[IdahoRanger]

That was barely 18 months ago. September '24.


For those not so experienced, avoiding to drive on ice is the single best policy. However, the necessities of life (food, water, medication, etc.) might lead you to a situation where you have to face the icy road. In this case, this is the best way to do so:

1) You'll want 4WD or at least AWD. 4WD is better in this case, because it is proactive rather than reactive. Keep in mind that not all trucks and SUVs are 4 wheel drive or all wheel drive. Unless it's a Subaru, 4WD or AWD is an OPTION and not standard.

2) If you don't have winter tires (and no, this does not include so-called "all-season tires", which are really "three-season" only) the next best thing is to have chains which can be attached to the drive tires for a bit of added traction. These will beat up your tires and the road in the long term, though. You'll notice that people in northern climates rarely, if ever, use chains, but then we mostly switch between summer and winter tires.

3) Once the vehicle is properly kitted, the only thing that the human in this equation can do is KEEP CALM and GO SLOW. Most importantly, always remember that both 4WD and AWD help with GO, but neither does anything to improve STOP.

4) If the road looks frosty, that's actually not a bad thing. That means that there's some snow and frost crystals on the surface which, much like sand, will slightly improve traction.
If the road is black and shiny, like obsidian, that's when it's at its most treacherous because you risk black ice. This is actually more likely to happen when the weather is hovering at or above freezing, because the ice is constantly melting and freezing. For that same reason, it's also far more brittle and more likely to break up under the weight of a vehicle, further reducing traction.

5) Keep calm and look where you want to go, not at what you want to avoid, especially if you're experiencing loss of traction. If you panic or stare at that snowbank you will absolutely plow right into it. Breathe, look at where you do want to end up and GENTLY apply pressure to the gas and/or brakes, as necessary. Any abrupt acceleration or deceleration is just rolling out the red carpet for disaster.

If you start sliding think of CPR while driving

Correct: (countersteer) Gently turn the steering wheel in the direction the rear of the car is sliding, not the direction you want to go

Pause: Take your foot off the accelerator and do not slam the brakes,

Recover: As the tires regain traction, gently bring the steering wheel back to center to straighten the car

 

[Stevedbvik1]

We were supposed to leave Michigan for Florida this coming Tuesday morning with our first stop in Murfreesboro TN on Tuesday night. Been watching the forecast and made the call last night to cancel everything until the following Tuesday. Hopefully things should be cleared up by then . Would have been an epic drive but I’m too old for that stuff anymore. The ice was the deal breaker.

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