Major Winter Storm Barreling Toward These US Cities

By Sam Stebbins  •  January 22, 2026
snow covered trees beside fence
Photo by Annie Nyle on Unsplash

Winter storm watches are in effect across large swaths of the country, as multiple clipper systems are expected to bring snow and ice to major population centers in the coming days. The massive storm system is forecasted to stretch from New Mexico and Texas, up through the Midwest and into the Northeast, impacting over 180 million Americans – more than half the U.S. population.

Current prediction models suggest that a wintry mix of snow, sleet, and ice will impact parts of the South and Central Midwest as early as Friday, January 23. By the end of the weekend, these conditions are expected to spread to the Upper Midwest, the mid-Atlantic, and New England. 

According to the latest 72-hour projections from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, certain parts of the country are likely to get a foot or more of snowfall by noon on Saturday, January 24. The greatest accumulation is expected in areas subject to lake-effect snow, including Watertown, New York and Grand Marais, Michigan, which could get up to 20 inches and 16 inches. While similarly high accumulation is not expected in any major population centers over the same time frame, there are several large cities where snowfall totals may approach double digits before Saturday afternoon. 

Using data from NOAA’s Probabilistic Precipitation Portal, Climate Crisis 247 identified the American cities that will be hit hardest by severe winter weather this week. Rankings are based on expected snowfall volume between 12pm Wednesday, Jan. 22, and 12pm Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. Data on high- and low-end snowfall predictions in each city are also from NOAA. Supplemental data on the all-time high snowfall volume over a 3-day period in the county surrounding each city on this list is from NOAA’s Snowfall Extremes program. Only cities with populations of at least 100,000 people were considered in this analysis. 

It is important to note that, in much of the country, the looming winter storm is expected to last through the weekend, and that the latest available snowfall forecasts do not extend beyond noon on Saturday. As a result, total snow accumulation in the cities on this list could well exceed current projections by early next week. 

10. Springfield, Missouri (Greene County)

  • Expected snowfall by Saturday, Jan. 24: 2”
  • Possible snowfall range: 0 to 4”
  • Estimated likelihood of snowfall by volume: 13% chance of 4”; 5% chance of 6”; 3% change of 8”
  • Largest 3-day snowfall volume in Greene County, Missouri: 22.0″ in January 1995
  • Local population: 169,432

9. Detroit, Michigan (Wayne County)

  • Expected snowfall by Saturday, Jan. 24: 2”
  • Possible snowfall range: 1 to 4”
  • Estimated likelihood of snowfall by volume: 11% chance of 4”; 0% chance of 6”; 0% change of 8”
  • Largest 3-day snowfall volume in Wayne County, Michigan: 24.0″ in January 1914
  • Local population: 636,644
black road surrounded with white trees
Photo by Joshua Ramsdell on Unsplash

8. Syracuse, New York (Onondaga County)

  • Expected snowfall by Saturday, Jan. 24: 2”
  • Possible snowfall range: 1 to 5”
  • Estimated likelihood of snowfall by volume: 40% chance of 4”; 7% chance of 6”; 0% change of 8”
  • Largest 3-day snowfall volume in Onondaga County, New York: 42.9″ in March 1993
  • Local population: 146,211

7. Wichita, Kansas (Sedgwick County)

  • Expected snowfall by Saturday, Jan. 24: 2”
  • Possible snowfall range: 0.5 to 6”
  • Estimated likelihood of snowfall by volume: 40% chance of 4”; 11% chance of 6”; 2% change of 8”
  • Largest 3-day snowfall volume in Sedgwick County, Kansas: 16.5″ in February 2013
  • Local population: 396,488

6. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Oklahoma County)

  • Expected snowfall by Saturday, Jan. 24: 3”
  • Possible snowfall range: 0.5 to 5”
  • Estimated likelihood of snowfall by volume: 40% chance of 4”; 8% chance of 6”; 0% change of 8”
  • Largest 3-day snowfall volume in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma: 14.1″ in December 2009
  • Local population: 688,693

5. Tulsa, Oklahoma (Tulsa County)

  • Expected snowfall by Saturday, Jan. 24: 3”
  • Possible snowfall range: 0.5 to 5”
  • Estimated likelihood of snowfall by volume: 35% chance of 4”; 9% chance of 6”; 3% change of 8”
  • Largest 3-day snowfall volume in Tulsa County, Oklahoma: 15.0″ in February 2011
  • Local population: 412,322

4. Lansing, Michigan (Ingham County)

  • Expected snowfall by Saturday, Jan. 24: 3”
  • Possible snowfall range: 2 to 5”
  • Estimated likelihood of snowfall by volume: 30% chance of 4”; 4% chance of 6”; 0% change of 8”
  • Largest 3-day snowfall volume in Ingham County, Michigan: 26.0″ in January 1967
  • Local population: 112,546

3. Rochester, New York (Monroe County)

  • Expected snowfall by Saturday, Jan. 24: 4”
  • Possible snowfall range: 1 to 6”
  • Estimated likelihood of snowfall by volume: 70% chance of 4”; 22% chance of 6”; 0% change of 8”
  • Largest 3-day snowfall volume in Monroe County, New York: 40.7″ in March 1999
  • Local population: 209,720

2. Grand Rapids, Michigan (Kent County)

  • Expected snowfall by Saturday, Jan. 24: 6”
  • Possible snowfall range: 3 to 8”
  • Estimated likelihood of snowfall by volume: 80% chance of 4”; 42% chance of 6”; 18% change of 8”
  • Largest 3-day snowfall volume in Kent County, Michigan: 28.2″ in December 2001
  • Local population: 197,768

1. Buffalo, New York (Erie County)

  • Expected snowfall by Saturday, Jan. 24: 7”
  • Possible snowfall range: 3 to 9”
  • Estimated likelihood of snowfall by volume: 64% chance of 4”; 37% chance of 6”; 20% change of 8”
  • Largest 3-day snowfall volume in Erie County, New York: 86.5″ in November 2014
  • Local population: 276,397


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