Winter Storm Sets Records And Disrupts Midwest And South

As the United States barreled through the final week of January 2026, a formidable winter storm swept across the country’s heartland, leaving millions grappling with record-breaking snowfall, frigid temperatures, and hazardous road conditions from Texas to Ohio and up through Missouri. The storm, which began in earnest on January 24, delivered not only a meteorological spectacle but also a set of challenges for local governments, school districts, and everyday residents trying to navigate the aftermath.

In Ohio, the brunt of the storm was felt overnight into Sunday, January 25, as Hamilton, Warren, Butler, and Boone counties declared level 2 snow emergencies starting at noon the previous day. According to the National Weather Service in Wilmington, road conditions were so treacherous that only essential travel was advised. The winter storm warning, which was set to remain in effect until noon on January 26, predicted total storm accumulations of 9 to 13 inches, with the heaviest snow falling throughout Sunday. Early morning reports on January 25 showed 5.9 inches in Lockland, 3.8 inches in Forest Park, and 6.5 inches near Dayton, among other significant totals.

Residents in affected counties awoke to a world transformed. Snowplows struggled to keep up as fresh snow continued to blanket the region, and the sheriff’s office cautioned, “Only those who find it necessary to drive should be out.” With snow and sleet still falling, the National Weather Service forecasted a high near 23°F for Cincinnati, with north winds gusting up to 20 mph and a 100% chance of precipitation. The overnight low was expected to dip to 6°F, with wind chills as low as minus 1°F. The forecast for the week ahead pointed to little relief: mostly sunny but bitterly cold days, with highs rarely climbing above the low 20s and nightly lows plunging below zero.

Meanwhile, North Texas found itself under a similar siege. According to FOX 4 and the National Weather Service, Dallas-Fort Worth residents woke to a landscape dusted in snow and sleet on January 25, with the winter weather event lingering into the morning hours. The region was under a Winter Storm Warning through noon, and an Extreme Cold Warning was set to follow from Sunday evening through Tuesday at noon. In addition, an Ice Storm Warning was issued for Anderson, Henderson, Freestone, and Van Zandt counties.

Temperatures in Dallas-Fort Worth hovered around 13°F on Sunday morning, with the day’s high expected to reach only 19°F—a mark that, if realized, would set a new record for the lowest high temperature on January 25. Sleet accumulations in the metroplex averaged 1 to 2 inches, with 3 to 5 inches north of the city and around 1 inch to the south. But it wasn’t just the snow and sleet that posed a threat; strong northwest winds blowing across area lakes created bands of lake-effect snow, leading to scattered flurries and localized accumulations. “Lake-effect snow does exist so flurries will fly and some snow bands downwind of lakes could accumulate!” FOX 4 meteorologists explained.

Dangerous cold was the order of the day, with overnight lows expected to drop to 9°F—breaking the previous record low—and “feels-like” temperatures plunging to minus 5°F by Monday morning. Despite some sunshine and road treatment efforts, officials warned that surfaces would refreeze rapidly after sunset, creating black ice hazards for motorists. Most North Texas school districts canceled classes for Monday, and power outages soared past 50,000 statewide. Fortunately, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas reported that the grid remained stable, with sufficient reserves to meet demand.

By Tuesday, Dallas-Fort Worth was expected to finally climb above freezing, ending a stretch of roughly 80 consecutive hours of sub-freezing temperatures. The forecast called for highs near 40°F, offering a brief respite before another dry cold front approached.

Further north, Kansas City found itself in the grip of a historic snow event. According to reporting from KETV and local weather authorities, Kansas City International Airport set a new daily snowfall record on January 24, recording 5.2 inches and smashing the previous record of 2.2 inches set in 1956. Snow fell in two main waves—one in the morning and another in the evening—with accumulations across the metro typically ranging from 3 to 5 inches. Johnson County, Kansas, reported 3 to 4 inches, with Merriam and Overland Park among the hardest-hit suburbs.

Communities south and southeast of the I-435 loop, including Butler and Linn County, saw the heaviest snowfall. As the storm wound down, additional accumulations of up to 4 inches were possible in some areas on January 25. The cold that followed was relentless: wind chills dropped below zero, and actual temperatures hovered near 2°F in the pre-dawn hours. The city’s exclusive nine-day forecast predicted highs around 16°F and lows below zero through the week, keeping winter impacts front and center for residents and commuters alike. “Accumulating snow. Still haven’t seen many power outages, so that’s good news here,” one local forecaster noted, but hazardous roads and numerous school and church closures were expected for January 26.

Across all three regions, the storm’s impacts were felt not just in the numbers, but in the day-to-day disruptions: school closures, canceled church services, and the ever-present anxiety of dangerous travel. Officials everywhere echoed the same refrain: stay home if possible, stay warm, and check for the latest updates from local authorities. As one sheriff’s office in Ohio put it, “Only drivers who consider it necessary to travel should be on the roads.”

For many, the storm’s timing was especially challenging. The weekend’s heavy snow and ice set the stage for a week of below-normal temperatures, straining heating systems and prompting concerns about vulnerable populations. In Texas, the memory of previous grid failures loomed large, but the power infrastructure held—at least for now. In Kansas City, the record snowfall was a reminder of the region’s capacity for winter extremes, even if power outages remained minimal this time around.

As the nation dug out, bracing for more cold and the possibility of additional storms, the resilience of communities was on full display. Neighbors checked on each other, snowplows worked around the clock, and meteorologists kept the public informed with up-to-the-minute forecasts and warnings. The storm of late January 2026 will be remembered not only for its records but for the way it tested—and demonstrated—the preparedness and spirit of America’s heartland.