Live updates: Millions under alert as historic winter storm charges across America

Ahead of all of the snow, arctic air is crashing into the Northeast, setting the stage for this weekend’s winter storm. By Saturday morning, temperatures will fall into the 10s and 20s – but it will feel much colder thanks to the wind. Wind chill temperatures, or what your body actually feels, will dip below zero in major cities like New York, Pittsburgh, and Boston.

New York is bracing for its biggest snowstorm in years, but forecasters are keeping a close eye on something that could mean the difference in big snow or big bust. Warm air is forecast to sneak into the picture at about 5,000 feet up in the sky. Temperatures near the ground and in the clouds above will be well below freezing, but this sneaky layer of warm air may wreak havoc on the forecast.

When something like this happens, ordinary snowflakes fall from the clouds and then partially melt once they reach the layer of warm air. But because they continue falling and reach another layer of air that’s below freezing, they refreeze again. This results in sleet.

Meteorologists in the FOX Forecast Center are closely monitoring trends in the forecast data that may point toward higher or lower snow totals in and around New York. That warm air is predicted to slide in over the city late Sunday and could cut down on snow totals. Right now, the city is expecting up to a foot of snow, but an increase in the amount of sleet would mean less snow.

We’re starting to get reports of ice accretion in Texas – the first of many we expect to receive from the National Weather Service this weekend.

Sleet has been reported in Lubbock, TX, while ice accretion has been observed on exposed surfaces in Slide, TX. Elevated and exposed surfaces, such as bridges, are typically the first to see ice building up. Conditions are expected to continue to worsen through the night.

Radar shows snow and ice becoming more widespread across North Texas and Oklahoma at this hour. Road conditions are deteriorating with surface temperatures below freezing, so drivers should be aware of roads turning slick and icy this evening.

The FOX Forecast Center is closely monitoring an area stretching from southern Oklahoma to Arkansas this evening. Rain is starting to move into this region and temperatures are cold enough for it to freeze on arrival. Freezing rain and sleet are expected to begin in the hours ahead, which could make roads icy and slick into Saturday morning.

FOX Weather meteorologists are growing increasingly concerned that warm air aloft will throw a wrench in the forecast for big cities along I-95 in the Northeast. That warm air sneaking in above the surface of the earth will result in snowflakes melting while falling, but refreezing again before reaching the ground. This is known as sleet and can spell big trouble for snow forecasts.

Forecasters now expect more sleet to mix in with the snow over New York, Long Island, and parts of New Jersey, which will cut down on the snow totals. The FOX Forecast Center is still calling for up to a foot of snow to fall in the five boroughs, the most the city has seen in years.

U.S. airlines are working to get ahead of this weekend’s storm, but that work is not good news for travelers. Data from FlightAware shows airlines have now canceled more than 6,500 U.S. flights through Sunday with another 3,600 delayed.

Flying this weekend? Chances are you’ll be grounded. Data from FlightAware shows airlines have now canceled more than 5,800 U.S. flights through Sunday with another 3,300 delayed. Airports are beginning to restricting the number of planes that can actually takeoff and land because of the wintry weather cranking up. This forces airlines to adjust schedules to meet the restrictions.

Dangerously cold air is invading America right now. Cold weather alerts run border-to-border, covering nearly 2,300 miles. A staggering 200 million Americans are feeling the arctic blast with wind chills in the North dipping to near -50°F. This life-threatening cold air will have lasting power, too. The FOX Forecast Center says the bitterly cold temperatures will stick around through the end of January.

It’s plain rain in Dallas-Fort Worth now, but that’s going to change overnight. Already, freezing rain and sleet are falling over West Texas. As temperatures drop in the hours ahead, the rain will transition over to a wintry mix of freezing rain and sleet for the DFW Metroplex where a Winter Storm Warning is in effect.

Today, I signed a disaster declaration for the entire Commonwealth to ensure our agencies have all necessary resources ready to go.

Governor Josh Shapiro has signed a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency, which makes resources available to prepare for and support response efforts for this weekend’s winter storm.

Click here to read the full press release.

The President is being briefed throughout the day and is in close contact with officials. The entire Trump Administration is closely monitoring the anticipated weather and is undertaking a whole-of-government approach to respond as appropriate.

The powerful winter storm is expected to wallop Washington this weekend. More than a half foot of snow and sleet are expected to pile up in the nation’s capital. With dangerous travel conditions anticipated, the United States Senate is postponing any votes that were scheduled on Monday to Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. ET.

I’m also announcing a commercial vehicle travel restriction on interstate highways.

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill announced she is declaring a State of Emergency ahead of this weekend’s winter storm.

Out of an abundance of caution all School District of Philadelphia schools (including the District’s Early Childhood Centers) and the Constance E. Clayton Education Center (Central Office) will be closed on Monday, January 26.

With heavy snow predicted for this weekend, Philadelphia Schools are calling off classes early for Monday. The School District of Philadelphia says if schools need to remain closed after Monday due to inclement weather, students will participate in remote learning from home.

Click here to read the full statement.

New data from FlightAware shows the impact the developing winter storm is having on airport operations. More than 6,600 U.S. flights have been delayed or canceled already through Sunday. And digging in deeper, 37% of Dallas-Fort Worth Airport’s (DFW) flights have been canceled over the next two days.

Radar shows freezing rain and sleet beginning to increase in coverage and intensity across West Texas. Conditions are expected to rapidly deteriorate in these areas tonight with a wintry mix across the region.

This weekend’s storm has forced New York Road Runners to cancel Sunday’s NYRR Fred Lebow Half Marathon. NYRR says the safety of all participants, volunteers, and staff is their top priority.

Click here to read more information.

The FOX Forecast Center says new data points to some changes in the forecast for the nation’s capital. Warmer air moving in above the surface of the earth is now expected to result in more sleet mixing in along I-95 in Virginia and Maryland. This sleet will cut down on snow totals from Baltimore to Washington. FOX Weather is still expecting 8-12 inches of snow, down from 12-18″ in previous forecasts.

The FOX Forecast Center is predicting New York’s biggest snowstorm in years will hit this weekend. More than a foot of snow is expected in and around the New York City tri-state area. Some sleet may mix in, especially near the coastline, but the sleet is not expected to cut down snow totals dramatically in the NYC boroughs.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, Boston, and most areas along I-95 in the Northeast. Heavy snow, sleet, and ice are expected to move in Saturday night and continue into early Monday. Final preparations should be underway ahead of the storm arriving.

Dangerously cold air is now charging across the Midwest, headed for the Deep South and East Coast. Actual air temperatures are below zero from Minneapolis to Chicago at this hour, but the wind is the big problem. Wind chill temperatures, or what you actually feel, are down to -35°F in some areas of the Upper Midwest. That cold air will continue moving south and east, which is why 192 million Americans are under cold weather alerts.

FOX Weather is providing LIVE, around-the-clock coverage of the extreme winter storm. With more than 20 crews deploying into the storm, this is the place for the most comprehensive storm coverage. Our team of meteorologists and correspondents will be Weathering It Together with you, reporting on the latest LIVE developments as the storm unfolds.

When the snow starts to fall, airports will go into overdrive to keep runways clear. But even the best crews with the most advanced equipment struggle to keep up with Old Man Winter. Data from Flight Aware shows airlines have now canceled more than 2,500 U.S. flights through Sunday. As the snow piles up, airports will begin restricting the number of planes that can actually takeoff and land, forcing airlines to adjust schedules. So they’re doing it now to give travelers an early heads up.

More than 10 states throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast could see a foot of snow from this weekend’s storm. The latest snow forecast just issued by the FOX Forecast Center shows widespread 12-18″ of snow from near Washington to Philadelphia to New York to Boston.

Time is running out to prepare for this weekend’s colossal winter storm. Snow is starting to fly across the Plains, and it won’t be long before snow and ice slam the South. The National Weather Service in Lake Charles, LA just issued an Ice Storm Warning for parts of Louisiana, including Alexandria, LA. This warning calls for up to a half inch of ice through Sunday, which is expected to make travel impossible and create widespread power outages.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has declared a State of Emergency in advance of the looming winter storm. Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has also declared a State of Emergency for the nation’s capital.

Click here for more information on New York.

Click here to read the full press release for Washington.

America’s massive winter storm is now underway. The first snowflakes are starting to fly across Kansas with light snow being reported at multiple weather reporting sites. Things only go downhill from here with deteriorating conditions across the Plains into the evening hours.

Freezing rain is expected to coat the South in dangerous ice this weekend. The latest power outage forecast from FOX Weather shows outages are possible from Texas to New England. But forecasters are most concerned with an area stretching from North Texas to Virginia where more than half inch of ice is expected to accumulate. That much ice is heavy enough to pull down trees and power lines. And with temperatures expected to remain below freezing into next week, any power outages could last for days.

Chances are if you have a flight this weekend, it’s going to be canceled. U.S. airlines have already canceled 2,000+ flights through Sunday. Additional cancellations are expected, wreaking havoc on weekend travel for thousands of Americans.

Click here to see the latest delays and cancellations from FlightAware.

Winter weather alerts were just expanded across the Southeast. The National Weather Service in Greenville-Spartanburg just issued an Ice Storm Warning for Charlotte, NC. The warning calls for significant icing, with additional impacts from accumulating sleet expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations up to two inches and ice accumulations between four tenths and three quarters of an inch are likely.

The FOX Forecast Center says the big upper-level low that will help fuel this massive winter storm is on its way. Water vapor satellite imagery, which shows how much moisture there is in the atmosphere, shows the big upper low off the coast of Baja California. That low will eject across the Southwest and meet up with another piece of upper-level energy from Canada to produce intense snow and ice later today, lasting through the weekend.

Arctic air currently over the Upper Midwest will charge into the Northeast later today. By Saturday morning, wind chills (feels like temperature) will dip below zero in most major cities across the region.

A massive winter storm is about to unleash incredible amounts of snow across America. The FOX Forecast Center’s newest snow forecast shows no big changes this morning. Significant snow will pile up from the Plains to the Northeast over the next three days. We’ll be posting regional maps of the snow forecast over the next few hours.

There are growing concerns this morning that freezing rain will lead to a catastrophic ice storm across parts of the South. The newest ice forecast from the FOX Forecast Center shows portions of Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi could see more than .75″ of ice. That much ice would make travel impossible and lead to widespread, long-lasting power outages. There’s also considerable concern for major icing from North Georgia to Virginia.

Wind chill temperature is how cold you actually feel when outside. It’s based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by wind and cold. Our skin is surrounded by a layer of warmth that hugs our body on a normal day. But when we’re exposed to wind, the layer of warm air is carried away. From there, our bodies have to work significantly harder to maintain an adequate temperature.

If the air temperature is 0°F and the wind is blowing at 15 mph, the wind chill is -19°F. Experts say skin can freeze in just 30 minutes at this wind chill. According to the National Weather Service, wind chill temperature uses advances in science, technology, and computer modeling to provide an accurate, understandable, and useful formula for calculating the dangers from winter winds and freezing temperatures.

Looking to calculate it at home? Here’s the equation.

Wind chill (ºF) = 35.74 + 0.6215T – 35.75(V^0.16) + 0.4275T(V^0.16)

T = Air Temperature (F)

V = Wind Speed (mph)

^ = raised to a power (exponential)

Extreme Cold Warnings and Cold Weather Advisories are in effect for 185 million people right now – and it’s easy to see why. Actual air temperatures are below zero from Chicago to Minneapolis, but it’s the wind that is causing all the commotion. Gusty winds from the northwest are pushing wind chills (feels like temperature) as low as -50°F this morning in the Midwest.

FOX Weather’s snow forecast shows the immense size of this winter storm. More than 2,000 miles of snow is expected to fall from Arizona to Maine over the weekend. And it could be enough to make it into the history books. With more than a foot of snow predicted in Oklahoma and across New York, this will be one of the worst snowstorms in years for some spots. And it may be enough to set records – stay tuned.

School districts across several states have told students not to show up today due to the dangerously cold weather and snow expected. Chicago Public Schools, Milwaukee Public Schools, and Des Moines Public Schools have canceled all Friday classes, while Atlanta Public Schools have canceled all weekend events. Hundreds of districts throughout the eastern half of the nation have also canceled classes and/or are rescheduling weekend activities.

It will be unsafe for staff and students to travel to school.

With wind chills expected to reach -35°F today in and around Chicago, school officials aren’t taking any chances. On Thursday, Chicago Public Schools announced all classes were canceled for Friday, and all after-school programming would be canceled, too.

CPS is asking parents to not send students to school today, as there will not be adults to receive them. The statement goes on to say that classes will resume for all students on Monday, January 26.

Click here to read the full press release.

America is facing one of the worst winter storms in years. Snow and ice are expected to hit 40 states through Monday, a massive footprint across America. More than 235 million Americans are facing brutal winter weather conditions as the storm barrels east.

The FOX Forecast Center is busy working on brand new snow and ice forecasts. New computer forecast model data from overnight is going into those forecasts, providing the most accurate look at where the heaviest snow and ice will accumulate. As soon as those maps are ready, we’ll post them here.

America’s massive winter storm is about to start up. We are now just a few hours away from the first snowflakes flying in the nation’s midsection. Snow and a wintry mix of freezing rain, sleet, and snow will start to fall across New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma as the storm develops.

Airports are ready for the expected snow and ice, preparing snow removal equipment and deicing trucks to keep planes moving. But the storm will grind operations at dozens of major hubs from the Midwest to the East Coast to a halt, forcing airlines to adjust schedules and cancel flights. Most major airlines have already issued travel waivers ahead of the storm, eliminating change fees for those affected by flight disruptions.

Data from FlightAware shows airlines were busy late Thursday – canceling nearly 1,800 flights for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. That number is predicted to increase significantly as the snow and ice begin to pile up. If you are traveling this weekend, have a backup plan in case your flight is canceled.

You can go back and see how the forecast for this winter storm has evolved with our live coverage from Thursday.

Click here to see Thursday’s minute-by-minute coverage.