As the calendar flipped to mid-January, much of the U.S. Northeast braced for a wintry onslaught, with snow, plummeting temperatures, and hazardous road conditions sweeping across multiple states. From the shores of Lake Erie in Ohio to the bustling streets of Philadelphia and the suburbs of North Jersey, meteorologists and forecasters have been working overtime to track a series of fast-moving winter weather systems, each bringing its own set of challenges and uncertainties.
According to WJW, on January 15, 2026, several parts of northeast Ohio found themselves under a Lake Effect Snow Warning or Winter Weather Advisory. Widespread snow created slick road conditions and prompted authorities to urge caution for anyone venturing out. Multiple bands of moderate to heavy snow were expected to continue through the first half of the day, with an additional 3 to 5 inches forecasted in most areas north of Interstate 76 through noon. The notorious snowbelt region was on track to receive even more. By early afternoon, the snow was expected to taper off from west to east, but not before wind gusts of 20 to 30 miles per hour contributed to blowing and drifting snow, bringing whiteout conditions and bitter cold wind chills hovering around 0°F in the morning. Later in the day, wind chills were only expected to rise into the single digits.
This wasn’t the end of winter’s grip on Ohio. WJW reported that a new front would arrive on Friday, January 16, with scattered snow showers—though accumulations would be small. The pattern of multiple fronts was set to continue through the weekend and into the following week, with temperatures rebounding slightly on Friday and Saturday (highs near or just above 30°F), but the cold would persist throughout the week.
Traveling east, the Pittsburgh area was also in the throes of a winter transformation. The KDKA Weather Center detailed how, by 10 p.m. on January 14, a strong surface cold front arrived along the Interstate 79 corridor, leading to a rapid changeover to snow and a dramatic temperature drop. Because road surfaces were unlikely to dry before the freeze, there was a real risk of a flash freeze on untreated roads that night. The heaviest snow shifted to the northwest and northern counties after midnight, with lake-effect and terrain-enhanced snow showers likely to linger through Thursday afternoon and evening.
Snow totals through Thursday evening were expected to range from 1 to 2 inches in the Pittsburgh metro area, 2 to 4 inches from Route 422 north to Interstate 80 in the Laurel Highlands and ridges, and less than 1 inch from Washington southwest into northern West Virginia. However, some northernmost counties could see as much as 4 to 6 inches thanks to lake-enhanced activity and the peaks of the Laurel Highlands. After a brief reprieve Thursday night into Friday morning, another disturbance was expected to bring more snow showers Friday afternoon and evening, especially to northern Pittsburgh. Yet another pair of disturbances would keep the snow coming Saturday and Sunday, though only light amounts were forecast. KDKA also warned of a fresh surge of Arctic air arriving Monday night into Tuesday, with highs likely stuck in the teens and lows in the single digits on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.
Further east, Delaware faced a different but no less challenging winter scenario. According to the National Weather Service, as reported by local outlets, a mix of rain and snow was forecast for the weekend of January 16-18. Temperatures were set to fluctuate from highs in the 40s to lows in the 20s and teens, raising the specter of black ice—a thin, nearly invisible layer of ice that forms on roadways when wet surfaces freeze. The Weather Channel warns that black ice is especially treacherous on bridges, overpasses, and shaded spots, and drivers are advised to keep their steering wheel straight, avoid braking, and gently ease off the accelerator if they encounter it.
In Delaware’s New Castle County, there was a 20% chance of snow on the night of January 16, with lows in the upper 20s. The next morning brought a 40% chance of rain and snow showers before 1 p.m., then a switch to rain with highs in the low 40s. Kent and Sussex Counties faced similar patterns, with slight variations in the timing and intensity of precipitation, but all areas were expected to see less than a tenth of an inch of precipitation. By January 18, conditions would turn partly sunny, but highs would only reach around 30°F in New Castle and Kent Counties, and about 34°F in Sussex County.
Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, the weather narrative was one of uncertainty and anticipation. As The Philadelphia Inquirer reported, temperatures on January 15 were forecast to hover around freezing with brisk westerly winds gusting up to 30 mph, dropping into the 20s after sunset and windchills in the teens. After a modest warmup on January 16 and 17, a colder period was expected for the holiday weekend, with the potential for snow. Yet, computer models were at odds: while one U.S. model suggested the possibility of a major snowstorm along the coast, others kept the storm offshore. The National Weather Service Office in Mount Holly summed up the situation, stating the potential system had “high-end potential but also could end up being nothing.”
Despite the uncertainty, the broader context showed that meteorological winter in Philadelphia was, so far, close to normal for both snowfall and temperature. December had been colder than average, but the first two weeks of January were warmer. Total snowfall was about average, with 4.8 inches recorded. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center anticipated below-normal temperatures and above-normal precipitation for late January, with upper-air patterns favoring the import of cold air from northwestern Canada. While there was no major invasion of the polar vortex expected soon, a significant disruption could occur in early February, potentially leading to cold outbreaks. Philadelphia’s peak snow season, the Inquirer noted, typically occurs in late January through mid-February.
North Jersey, too, was keeping an eye on the sky. According to the National Weather Service, as relayed by local outlets, light snow was possible on Saturday, January 17, with most areas likely seeing only a coating to an inch. There was about a 40% chance of snow precipitation. Heavier snow was possible on Sunday, January 18, but exact amounts were uncertain; early forecasts showed only a 10% chance of snow accumulating more than 3 inches. Flurries were possible in the early hours of Thursday, January 15, but heavy snow was not expected. Temperatures on January 15 were forecast to reach a high of 42°F and a low of 24°F, with rain tapering off by morning and the sun making an appearance later in the day.
As winter’s latest act unfolded, residents across the Northeast found themselves checking forecasts, prepping for icy commutes, and hoping for a break in the clouds. With models in flux and fronts arriving in quick succession, the only certainty was that winter had firmly settled in—and wasn’t planning to leave anytime soon.
