Meteorologist's dire warning as arctic bomb to blast up to 20 INCHES of snow across bulk of America:

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Meteorologist's dire warning as arctic bomb to blast up to 20 INCHES of snow across bulk of America: 'Plan for days without power'

Daily Mail
By LAUREN ACTON-TAYLOR
20 January 2026

Weather experts are issuing grave warnings to Americans not to make any travel plans over the weekend as a powerful winter storm is set to hit multiple states.

As much as 20 inches of heavy snow, sleet and ice are predicted to sweep across most of the eastern half of America, as Arctic air from Canada is set to travel south in what's been named Winter Storm Fern.

The storm is predicted to be one of the biggest in recent memory - with meteorologists urging people to prepare for days without power in their homes.   

'This is not good,' Weather Channel meteorologist Jordan Steele wrote on X. ' Plan now! Plan for going day(s) without power this weekend. School cancellations next week.'

'Do not plan a road trip this weekend. This could be situation where people get stuck on the highway.'

The National Weather Service is predicting up to a foot of heavy snow, freezing rain and sleet, as well as hazardous conditions and reduced visibility over the upcoming weekend.

'All model guidance shows arctic air making it down to the Gulf and East Coasts, which will clash with southern stream energy to produce a high impact winter storm across the southern tier,' the center wrote on Tuesday morning.

Confidence on 'bad impacts' is high, according to WFMY meteorologist Tim Buckley, who wrote on X that the 'incredible' amounts of moisture and 'tons of durable' cold air at the surface point to a bad storm.

'Models forecasting one to two inches of liquid (usually equals 10-20 inches of snow, or three to six inches of sleet, or up to one inch of ice),' Buckley wrote, adding that the amount remains unclear.

(more)
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15481205/winter-storm-weekend-arctic-weather-snow.html

[berdie]

I feel so sorry for these folks.

We (Texas) are predicted to have a bad winter storm this weekend. I not only hate it...I dread it!

But it's been mild so far...so I can't really complain.

[mountaineer]

My cousin in Delaware reports they're in for 8" of snow Sunday. Yikes. At least this storm seems to be bypassing us. We've already had plenty of snow and bitter cold this winter.

Oops, just checked my local forecast. New prediction is for 3" of snow here Sunday. Drat.

[Sighlass]

Weird part is there is no real Low Pressure tracking over the area... Just a High up north pumping cold down while the South just reacts to it. Low of 7 degree for Monday is the forecast here, Brrr to us. Another Northern invasion, get your milk/bread and buy ammo.

[Bigun]

I feel so sorry for these folks.

We (Texas) are predicted to have a bad winter storm this weekend. I not only hate it...I dread it!

But it's been mild so far...so I can't really complain.

Those folks is us! @berdie Big ice storm on the way.

[berdie]

*chuckle* I guess that's true @Bigun . I just hope they deliver my propane tomorrow and ERCOT isn't lying about being fully prepared.

Stay warm!

[Kamaji]

Looks like 8” to 12” forecast at our location on LI for next Sunday and Monday.  Whee!

[Sighlass]

Now calling for below 0 temps next Tuesday night... Freaking below zero, we ain't made for that kind of cold. Worse than that is the possibility of a Ice storm.... I have memories of what a 1/2" of ice does for this area... and it ain't pretty. Give us snow, but that ice storm stuff can be worse than the cold. We heat with wood, but with no electricity things get ugly with no fans to help pull the heat off the heater. Still better than no heat I guess, be a chance to practice a few bushcraft sleep setups inside.

[Lando Lincoln]

Overnight lows are forecasted to be -15 to -18 here for Friday and Saturday.

[corbe]

   There's nothing more Deadly than (South) Texans driving on ICE.

[berdie]

   There's nothing more Deadly than (South) Texans driving on ICE.

Or north Texans!! It's terrible scary.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Looks like we'll actually avoid it! *knock on wood*

It's been a shitty winter.

[mystery-ak]

For once it's not hitting us...we will get the minus temps but so far no snow in the forecast...we've already had enough snow...

[Cyber Liberty]

Now calling for below 0 temps next Tuesday night... Freaking below zero, we ain't made for that kind of cold. Worse than that is the possibility of a Ice storm.... I have memories of what a 1/2" of ice does for this area... and it ain't pretty. Give us snow, but that ice storm stuff can be worse than the cold. We heat with wood, but with no electricity things get ugly with no fans to help pull the heat off the heater. Still better than no heat I guess, be a chance to practice a few bushcraft sleep setups inside.

I remember from my youth living in Michigan that a heavy ice storm is worse than heavy snow. Ice can take a lot of power lines down.

[libertybele]

Stay safe and warm Texans and prayers up for all.

[libertybele]

I remember from my youth living in Michigan that a heavy ice storm is worse than heavy snow. Ice can take a lot of power lines down.

Ice is treacherous. I remember coming back from visiting family in FL to an ice storm in MI.  Luckily we had a wood burning stove at the time and it was a lifesaver. We had had wood delivered before we left and had enough dry wood to keep us toasty.

[Sighlass]

Some models have up to 2" of ice in some areas in the south... Nothing power-wise stays on with 2" of ice. Basically trees look like a tornado has hit them.  I have seen what a half inch of ice does , I can't fathom what more would do.

[Hoodat]

Weird part is there is no real Low Pressure tracking over the area... Just a High up north pumping cold down while the South just reacts to it. Low of 7 degree for Monday is the forecast here, Brrr to us. Another Northern invasion, get your milk/bread and buy ammo.

It will get very cold.  Then it will warm up to 33°F and rain.  Once it stops raining, the temperature will fall back in the teens.  Seen it happen again and again.  The weatherman is a liar.

[Kamaji]

I remember from my youth living in Michigan that a heavy ice storm is worse than heavy snow. Ice can take a lot of power lines down.

Yup.

[Sighlass]

It will get very cold.  Then it will warm up to 33°F and rain.  Once it stops raining, the temperature will fall back in the teens.  Seen it happen again and again.  The weatherman is a liar.

That is the usual pattern, except this time it will not have the low pressure driving it (counter clockwise) to swirl up the warm before the system... It will be 48 hours of precipitation with only the High pressure pumping down cold from up north. That is something that doesn't happen often down here.



Latest ice estimates from local weather... 2" of Ice would wipe us out.

[Smokin Joe]

Now calling for below 0 temps next Tuesday night... Freaking below zero, we ain't made for that kind of cold. Worse than that is the possibility of a Ice storm.... I have memories of what a 1/2" of ice does for this area... and it ain't pretty. Give us snow, but that ice storm stuff can be worse than the cold. We heat with wood, but with no electricity things get ugly with no fans to help pull the heat off the heater. Still better than no heat I guess, be a chance to practice a few bushcraft sleep setups inside.

  One of many varieties of thermally powered fans out there. Without electricity, they move the heat around as long as they are on the stove.

We're looking at single digits to twenties below zero until Monday, then a heat wave in the teens.

[Sighlass]

  One of many varieties of thermally powered fans out there. Without electricity, they move the heat around as long as they are on the stove.

We're looking at single digits to twenties below zero until Monday, then a heat wave in the teens.

Yeah, those fans look bad to the bone, but have also seen reviews that said they did very little to actually move the air. Still just for the aesthetics, I wouldn't mind have a few. Wranglestar on Youtube uses them a lot in his videos (sitting on his wood heater). 

P.S. I earlier said no Low Pressure was involved in this system, seems I am wrong (just watching one of later videos). So there is that, I'll leave the weather forecasting to one of our own that actually has a degree in the subject.