January 23, 2026, 3:14 p.mJanuary 23, 2026, 4:55 p.m
What is probably the worst winter storm in recent years awaits the North American continent. In the USA, a dozen states have declared a state of emergency. The media spoke of a “monster storm”.
The storm is expected to be so violent because it is formed from a high pressure area instead of a low pressure area. This writes «MeteoNews». The high pressure area is expected to shift and expand over Canada and North America in the coming hours and days.
A sign on a highway in Texas warns of the coming storm.Image: keystone
From Friday to Monday, winter weather warnings were issued for over 160 million US residents. Since Friday morning, more than ten states have been in full or partial states of emergency. These include: Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Missouri.
Over 160 million Americans are under winter hazards associated with the impending major winter storm. Disruptive snowfall is likely from the Southern Rockies to the Northeast, including dangerous ice from the ArkLaTex to the southern Mid-Atlantic. Here are the latest key messages pic.twitter.com/bmVIT5to7a
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) January 22, 2026
Accompanied by heavy snowfall and icy winds, the approaching storm will spread over a distance of around 3,000 kilometers from New Mexico in the southwest to Maine in the northeast over the weekend, the weather service warned.
Fear of power outages
In areas that are particularly hard hit, such as Virginia or Mississippi, layers of ice that are millimeters to centimeters thick are expected.
The map shows where and how strong the storm will spread.Image: Weather Prediction Center
Airlines have already canceled hundreds of connections as a precaution, according to media reports. Passengers are offered the opportunity to rebook free of charge. To be on the safe side, numerous schools also canceled classes on Friday.
It is likely to be particularly cold and snowy in the states of New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Pennsylvania. In some places, up to 40 centimeters of snow is expected, more than in 15 years. According to “MeteoNews”, the cold and weather in North America will not normalize again until the beginning of February.
The authorities called on people not to leave their homes and to leave their cars behind. New York Governor Kathy Hochul warned that the expected cold could be “absolutely deadly.”
Lufthansa cancels flights
Lufthansa also canceled numerous flights to and from North America on Saturday. According to a spokeswoman, connections to Washington, New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Charlotte are still affected on Sunday. Only isolated delays are expected at numerous other airports in the west, south and north of the continent on Sunday. The affected passengers would be informed about the cancellations and alternative travel options.
Trump taunts experts
US President Donald Trump has used the predicted violent winter storm in the USA to once again attack climate experts.
While many US states took emergency precautions to deal with the expected snowfall and warned citizens to stay at home, the Republican wrote on the Truth Social platform: “Could the environmental activists please explain – WHAT HAS ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO GLOBAL WARMING???”
However, climate change does not mean that there will no longer be cold snaps or winter storms, but rather that temperatures are increasing on a long-term average. According to experts, the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events is increasing as a result of climate change. This also includes storms and heavy rainfall.
Trump repeatedly doubts the existence of climate change. Months ago, the Republican spoke of the “biggest fraud”. Even in his second term in office, he sticks to his opinion, which contradicts all scientific findings. (nib/sda/dpa)
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