The United States is facing a wave of extreme Arctic cold, with most cities transformed into frozen survival zones and temperatures plummeting to -22°F (-30°C), with wind chill feeling like -40°F (-40°C). One million citizens are without power, while the death toll continues to rise, reaching 30 so far.
Meanwhile, ice, snow, and unprecedented power outages threaten 220 million human lives across the country. The Arctic air is expected to refreeze ice and snow and could potentially worsen power outages, according to new warnings.
NO POWER: FOX Weather Correspondent @1Brandycampbell continues her coverage from Oxford, Mississippi, where trees and powerlines are still glazed in thick ice as power outages continue for affected communities.#Mississippi #icestorm #winterstorm #snow #FoxWeather pic.twitter.com/SmYF8DV4Rx
— FOX Weather (@foxweather) January 26, 2026
DANGEROUS ICING 🥶: Ice accumulation throughout Tennessee has caused dangerous travel conditions, fallen trees and widespread power outages. Emergency officials are urging residents to stay off the roads. pic.twitter.com/RSAvAKkvz9
— FOX Weather (@foxweather) January 26, 2026
It’s indicative that more than 14 inches of snow fell in parts of Missouri and Illinois, nearly 24 inches in the Ohio region, 22 inches in parts of Massachusetts and New York, while in Boston snowfall reached half a meter in height.
In Oxford, Mississippi, ice accumulation has paralyzed the entire city, as thousands of people are without power. Hundreds of trees have collapsed and damage to the power grid is described as unprecedented.
New York already mourns eight deaths from the worst snowfall in half a century, while the waters of the Hudson River are “turning into icebergs.”
FROZEN: Chunks of ice captured floating in the Hudson River in incredible video. New York City has been slammed by the heaviest snow in years amid extreme bone-chilling cold from the arctic blast.#newyorkcity #newyork #winter #snow #freezingcold #winter #FoxWeather pic.twitter.com/iPV0laayv1
— FOX Weather (@foxweather) January 27, 2026
As much of the northeastern United States tries to dig out from the biggest snowstorm in years, New York, Philadelphia, and Boston will face new snowstorms this coming weekend, according to forecasts.
The Arctic wave carved a destructive 2,500-mile path across the country.
Nashville, Tennessee is sounding the alarm as even century-old trees have succumbed to the “ice storm of the century.”
MUSIC CITY MISERY 🧊: Exclusive photos reveal the crippling ice that has left a lasting toll in Nashville, downing century-old trees, destroying utility poles and demolishing traffic signals as more than 200,000 customers across Tennessee are still without power. pic.twitter.com/zWPzIRh4MR
— FOX Weather (@foxweather) January 27, 2026
Paralysis extends to Canada
More than one million households in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky remain without power and conditions are potentially life-threatening, meteorologists repeat. Airports are paralyzed as far as Canada and flight cancellations exceed 20,000.
