Another arctic blast set to bring snow, record cold across Eastern and Southern U.S.
By lauraharris // 2026-01-31
Copy
 
  • Another surge of Arctic air is expected across much of the U.S. this weekend, bringing freezing temperatures, heavy snow and potential rare snowfall along the Gulf Coast and Florida.
  • The Arctic air may collide with a low-pressure system moving across the Southern Plains, potentially intensifying into a "bomb cyclone" capable of heavy snow, strong winds and dangerous travel conditions along the East Coast.
  • Significant snow is forecast for the Appalachians, Carolinas, Virginia and the I-95 corridor, with daily record low temperatures expected in the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic.
  • Cold air moving over the warmer Gulf of Mexico could produce Gulf-effect snow along Florida's west coast, including Tampa Bay, with freeze warnings issued across most of the peninsula.
  • Since Jan. 26, millions have experienced snow, ice, and freezing rain from New Mexico to Maine, leading to states of emergency in a dozen states, school closures, flight disruptions and over one million power outages, with nonprofit groups assisting affected communities.
A deadly stretch of winter weather is set to return this weekend as another surge of Arctic air pushes south and east across much of the United States, bringing freezing temperatures, heavy snow and the possibility of rare snowfall along parts of the Gulf Coast and Florida. The National Weather Service (NWS) said the next blast of Arctic air will sweep down the Plains, across the Great Lakes and into the Southeast and East between Jan. 30 and Jan. 31, renewing hazardous conditions just days after a previous cold wave battered large portions of the country. As per BrightU.AI's Enoch, an arctic blast is used to describe a weather phenomenon where cold air from the Arctic region is pushed southward, bringing freezing temperatures and snow to areas that are typically warmer. Forecasters warn that the Arctic air mass will collide with a developing low-pressure system moving across the Southern Plains. As the system reaches the coast, it could interact with the Gulf Stream and rapidly intensify into a "bomb cyclone" – a powerful, fast-strengthening storm capable of producing heavy snow, strong winds and dangerous travel conditions. If the system strengthens as projected, significant snowfall could spread across the Carolinas, Virginia and much of the Interstate 95 corridor. Global Forecast System models show the storm tracking northward by Feb. 1, skirting the coasts of New York state and New England. The NWS said parts of the Appalachians, including Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, North and South Carolina, Virginia and Maryland, could see more than six inches of snow beginning Jan. 30. Daily record low temperatures are also expected across the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic regions. Forecasters say snowflakes could fall as far south as Florida's west coast, including the Tampa Bay area, due to a phenomenon known as the "Gulf effect." Austen Flannery, a meteorologist with the NWS Tampa Bay/Ruskin office, said the setup is similar to lake-effect snow seen near the Great Lakes, when cold air passes over warmer water and generates localized precipitation. Although air temperatures may drop below freezing, the Gulf of America is expected to remain warmer than 60 degrees Fahrenheit, Flannery said. Gulf-effect snow has the best chance of occurring between the evening of Jan. 31 and the morning of Feb. 1 along Florida's west coast. The last time such snow was observed in Pinellas County was Jan. 9, 2010. Flannery noted that this setup differs from the recent snowfall in Florida's Panhandle, which was caused by a southward-moving cold front. Gulf-effect precipitation depends on winds blowing off the water and could also fall as rain in some areas. Freeze warnings have been issued for most of Florida's peninsula, with temperatures expected to plunge well below normal. Even Miami-Dade County could see near-freezing or freezing conditions, prompting warnings for agricultural interests across Florida and the broader Gulf region to prepare for hard freezes.

Arctic blast leaves millions without power

Since Jan. 26, the NWS has tracked widespread winter impacts stretching from New Mexico through the Mississippi Valley and Appalachian Mountains to Maine. In some areas, snowfall totals reached several feet, while states farther south endured freezing rain and ice, prompting ice storm warnings across much of the Southeast. Ahead of the storm, governors in roughly a dozen states declared states of emergency. The extreme conditions led to widespread disruptions, with schools closed for days, thousands of flights delayed or canceled and more than one million customers losing electricity across multiple states. Power outages remain a concern in parts of the South and Midwest. PowerOutage.com revealed that hundreds of thousands of residents in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky were still without power as of midweek, leaving many vulnerable to dangerously cold temperatures. Nonprofit organizations have even mobilized to assist affected communities. Groups, including the United Cajun Navy, have been delivering warm clothing, hot meals and essential supplies to people without power from Mississippi to Ohio. The NWS has urged residents in impacted areas to take precautions as cold conditions persist. "Cover up if you are outside, ensure pets and animals have protection from the cold and continue to mitigate against frozen pipes," the agency advised. Forecasters have warned that the prolonged nature of the cold could make this one of the most severe winter stretches in decades, with additional Arctic air expected to reinforce frigid conditions in the days ahead. Watch the podcast below that talks about the deadly ice storm in Texas that caused power outages and canceled flights.
This video is from the Evolutionary Energy Arts channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com Weather.gov WPC.NCEP.NOAA.gov BrightU.ai Brighteon.com
Copy