Brittany Lockley

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A strengthening coastal low is expected to bring heavy snowfall to parts of the Carolinas and the Mid-Atlantic this weekend. The low will track east Friday through Sunday, even delivering heavy rain at times, gusty winds, and areas of wintry precipitation across the Northeast. The storm system will develop along a stalled frontal boundary near the Southeast coast before tracking northward along the shoreline, tapping into Atlantic moisture and intensifying as it moves up the East Coast.&nbsp; Weathernation Meteorologist Brittany Lockley spoke the National Weather Service in Raleigh about potential impacts, preparation, and historical context.<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DYzNRejruHA" start="0"></iframe></div>The set-up is different than the most recent wallop of snow. Instead of a few waves of a mixed bag of precipitation types, this will be a strong but quickly developing storm system, which makes it tougher to forecast. Where and when this storm develops will hold all of the details as to how far inland some of these threats will reach. The main threats we are watching will be the potential for heavy snow, strong winds, and coastal flooding.<h1>Impacts</h1>This system will bring a threat of heavy snow to areas along the Mid-Atlantic coast. This snow starts to show up in our models across Georgia and the Carolinas as early as Friday. As the system lifts north, colder air wrapping into the storm will allow rain to mix with or change to snow. North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and upstate New York could see accumulating snowfall. Gusty winds developing on the back side of the low may further reduce visibility and create difficult travel conditions in areas that experience wintry weather.&nbsp;Some models are eager to pick up the snowfall amounts, like our in house Barron Model.This model is hammering the snowfall totals for North Carolina, with 8-12" even into Virginia and parts of South Carolina. This is likely overdoing the heavy snow, but does a decent showing the higher potential.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/1-1769742624441.png">The Weather Prediction Center is highlighting parts of the Carolinas for moderate to major impacts of winter storm impacts this weekend! Even extreme impacts are possible in the Outer Banks.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-29 135632-1769720202132.png">The GFS model is also starting to agree on heavy snow for the Carolinas and Virginia. However, the latest run shuts out the snow chances for New England so we will see how everything plays out.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/1-1769742657938.png">With the snowfall forecast still up in the air, it is better to focus on safer bets that will be part of the equation. Wind. With a quickly deepening cyclone, a wide wind field is expected, with some wind gusts approaching 60-70 mph. Will the system be close enough to the coast to bring some of those inland?<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/2026-01-29 06-41-48-1769694147643.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Stay up to date with the latest forecast as details become more and more clear.

Jesse Kelley

Major Snow Maker Aims at the Carolinas & Mid-Atlantic

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Dave Holder

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While it's now been several days since the winter storm that impacted millions across the country has departed, several hundred thousand customers remain without power, the majority across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-29 115407-1769712858232.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-29 115128-1769712806132.png">The Mississippi Delta region was particularly hit hard. Unfortunately, Extreme Cold Warnings are now in place for these same areas. The warnings extend south through New Orleans and the bayous. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-29 120225-1769713354141.png">In addition, cold alerts in the form of Advisories and Extreme Cold Watches to the east have been issued. The majority of these will be in effect from Friday night through Sunday morning. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-29 120602-1769713622639.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-29 120618-1769713605627.png">As of now, Sunday morning is forecasted to be the coldest night for most, with widespread record-breaking cold a possibility. Dangerous cold will be possible through Monday morning, potentially as far south as the Lower Keys.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-29 121316-1769714005491.png">The next few nights could be quite dangerous for those without power as temperatures drop. Make sure to check in on loved ones, neighbors, and pets, particularly those who may be sensitive to the harsh elements. Will continue to update this story on Weather Nation, including your Southeast Regional Forecast, every 10 past the hour.

Cold Alerts Issued as 200K+ Customers Remain Without Power

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Rob grew up in South Florida, where daily afternoon storms and hurricanes piqued his interest in meteorology early on. That interest was fostered by his teachers and his father, who one time brought him onto the roof of their home to watch a funnel cloud move through the Everglades several miles away. Years of filmmaking and tv production in high school gradually pushed him toward broadcast meteorology at Florida State University, where he joined and eventually led the student run daily weather show. After graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Meteorology, he began his career at KESQ in Palm Springs, California before heading to KFSN in Fresno and WLOS in Asheville, North Carolina. He has covered a diverse array of extreme weather events, including haboobs and flash flooding in the desert, extreme snow in the Sierra, hurricanes, and Appalachian ice storms. He also enjoys telling stories and reporting about weather issues.

Connect with Rob on <a href="https://twitter.com/WxRobBradley">Twitter</a>

Rob Bradley

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Persistent bursts of cold air have continued to produce heavy snow around the Great Lakes this week. While ice continues to build on the lakes, it doesn't look like it will stop the potential for snow over the next few days as another round of arctic air spills over the region.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-29 064508-1769694424422.png">While Lake Erie is now mostly ice-covered, Lakes Michigan, Superior, and Ontario remain close to 80% of their surface exposed, meaning cold air can still pick up plenty of moisture. As winds shift to the north on Friday, lake effect snow will also shift, sending snow southward into northern Illinois and Indiana. The alerts now include the Chicago metro. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/1-1769743156493.png">Some of those snow bands will even aim at Chicago, IL by Friday into Saturday, with the potential for 6"+ in some neighborhoods around the city. Areas like Gary, IN, could also see some heavier totals in the area.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/New Baron Video 3-1769743295605.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Snow totals could still surpass 6" for some areas in Michigan and western New York. The band setting up Friday for northern Illinois also has the potential for heavy accumulation from Chicago through Gary, IN.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/1-1769743343326.png">For more details on the Central U.S., be sure to join us :30 past the hour, for more details on the northeast, be sure to join us :10 past the hour.

Lake-Effect Snow Continues, Shifts Toward Chicago This Weekend

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Kevin Schneider

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Earlier this week, Seattle recorded 2 straight weeks without measurable precipitation. That's an impressive stretch for most, but especially the Pacific Northwest! But as we saw a few weeks ago, we're getting back into a wet pattern out west, with multiple shots at rain and snow.As with most repeated rounds of rain, flash flooding will be a concern. The highest totals look to target the Olympic Peninsula and into the foothills of the Cascades. A few inches of rain will be possible over the next several days, along with snow in the higher elevations. Localized totals may end up measuring up to a foot in the northern Cascades.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/1-1769722958524.png">Over the next few days, the forecast calls for waves of moisture off and on, producing rain and snow showers.<video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/New Baron Video 3-1769742792440.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>More details on your Western Regional Forecast can be found :50 past the hour, every hour, on WeatherNation.

Rain Finally Makes a Return to the Northwest

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You've been warned, iguanas. We've had glancing blows of cold weather recently, stunning a few cold-blooded reptiles. This one's going to be more widespread and could even bring the threat of snow as far south as Tampa.<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IusUvOmydJc" start="0"></iframe></div><h1>COLD</h1>A developing low-pressure will cut across the Gulf Thursday and Friday. That will bring the threat of some impressive snow to the Carolinas before deciding if it wants to move up the coast or not. That system will leave the door WIDE OPEN behind it, letting the Arctic air flow much farther south than it has been recently. Overnight lows in the 30's will make it as far south as Miami, where they haven't seen the 30's for more than a decade!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-28 101841-1769620728751.png">Even areas like the Tampa area will slip into the freezer by Sunday morning. That's where things might get interesting...<h1>GULF-EFFECT SNOW</h1>We've started shutting down the lake-effect machine a little bit--it's been that cold recently. Great Lake ice coverage has rocketed way above average for the time of year. Let's find another body of water. The Gulf won't freeze over!<div class="twitter-tweet" style="display: flex; justify-content: center" data-twitt-post-id="2016346284802629827" src="https://x.com/NWSWPC/status/2016346284802629827?s=20"></div>For any sort of "-effect" to happen (rain or snow) there just needs to be a sizable difference in temperatures. Some lesser-known include ocean-effect snow that can sometimes affect places like Nantucket, MA. This is similar, where cold, Arctic air will flow over warmer waters of the Gulf around the Big Bend this weekend.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot 2026-01-28 102535-1769621144325.png">The difference in temperatures will drive persistent showers onshore into Saturday into Sunday. The thinking is that temperatures could catch up to the showers, turning the rain over to snow. This won't be a long-lived setup, so is expected to be more novelty than anything. It's still wild that Florida could pick up snow twice in the same Winter, though! For the record, the last time Tampa picked up measurable snow was January 19, 1977.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/01/Web 5-1769696171892.png">

Lake-Effect Snow Continues, Shifts Toward Chicago This Weekend

Rain Finally Makes a Return to the Northwest

Gulf-Effect Snow Possible This Weekend

Major Snow Maker Aims at the Carolinas & Mid-Atlantic

Cold Alerts Issued as 200K+ Customers Remain Without Power

Lake-Effect Snow Continues, Shifts Toward Chicago This Weekend

Rain Finally Makes a Return to the Northwest

Gulf-Effect Snow Possible This Weekend

Major Snow Maker Aims at the Carolinas & Mid-Atlantic

Cold Alerts Issued as 200K+ Customers Remain Without Power

Lake-Effect Snow Continues, Shifts Toward Chicago This Weekend

Rain Finally Makes a Return to the Northwest

Gulf-Effect Snow Possible This Weekend