The snowstorm of January 30 to February 1, 2026

The Regional Snowfall Index is NOAA’s ranking of snowstorms east of the Rockies by how much snow fell, over how wide an area and on how many people, region by region: the area and the population above four snowfall thresholds set for each region, weighted against that region’s own history. A storm is scored in each region it reached, on a scale from 1, notable, to 5, extreme.

Events

1,046

Deaths

15

Injuries

6

Damage

$5.8 million

Episodes

104

Every winter weather episode the Weather Service filed east of the Rockies in these dates. A few may belong to another system on the same days. Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

• Extreme Cold and Cold in New York, January 28 to 31, 202663 eventsA persistent polar airmass created a prolonged period of frigid conditions across eastern New York for the final days of January into the very beginning of February.
• Extreme Cold and Cold in Michigan, January 28 to 29, 202615 eventsAnother shot of arctic air punched into the region on the evening of the 28th into the morning of the 29th, with cold temperatures depending mainly on radiational cooling combined with light winds to drop wind chills to around -15 to -20F.
• Extreme Cold in West Virginia, January 29, 20261 eventUnderneath a broad area of high pressure, the typical cold spots in the higher elevations of Eastern Tucker County saw minimum wind chill values into the negative teens and as cold as -28F at a mesonet site 5 miles east of Canaan Heights.
• Extreme Cold and Cold in Michigan, January 29 to 30, 202622 eventsAntecedent arctic air mass on the 29th, combined with radiational cooling and a light wind going into the morning of the 30th, led another chilly night, with some sites dropping into the -20 to -30F range for apparent temperatures.
• Extreme Cold and Cold in Vermont, January 29 to 31, 20266 eventsA persistent polar airmass created a prolonged period of frigid conditions across southern Vermont for the final days of January into the very beginning of February.
• Cold in Connecticut, January 29 to 31, 20264 eventsA persistent polar airmass created a prolonged period of frigid conditions across northwest Connecticut for the final days of January into the very beginning of February.
• Extreme Cold and Cold in Massachusetts, January 29 to 31, 20264 eventsA persistent polar airmass created a prolonged period of frigid conditions across western Massachusetts for the final days of January into the very beginning of February.
• Extreme Cold in Vermont, January 29 to 30, 202617 eventsA weak replenishing arctic front moved across NY and northern New England on January 29th bringing colder air on northwest winds. Minimum air temperatures dropped to Zero to 15 below zero across much of VT with wind chill temperatures of 15 to 30 below zero across much of VT.
• Extreme Cold in New York, January 29 to 30, 20269 eventsA weak replenishing arctic front moved across NY and northern New England on January 29th bringing colder air on northwest winds. Minimum air temperatures dropped to 5 to 20 below zero with wind chill temperatures of 15 to 35 below zero across northern NY.
• Winter Storm in Virginia, January 30 to 31, 202614 eventsA low pressure system moved eastward along the Gulf Coast on January 30 and intensified as it reached the Georgia and South Carolina coastline by January 31.
• Extreme Cold and Cold in Mississippi, January 30 to 31, 20263 deaths · 1 injured · 3 eventsCold temperatures and wind chills affected the region on January 30th and 31st. A few individuals died or were hospitalized due to hypothermia or house fires during this cold weather episode.
• Cold in Illinois, January 30 to 31, 202614 eventsAn Arctic cold front moved through southern Illinois on the morning of the 30th, bringing cold temperatures down to the teens. Blustery northwest winds caused wind chills to fall around -5 to -7.
• Heavy Snow in Virginia, January 30 to 31, 20262 eventsThe end of January rounded out with accumulating snow showers across southwestern Virginia in response to a passing low pressure system. The center of this disturbance intensified over the Carolinas on January 30th, pulling an abundance of moisture up from the south.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in West Virginia, January 30 to 31, 20262 eventsA southern stream disturbance skirted across the Upper Mississippi Valley into the Carolinas beginning on January 30th, with the northern fringes of the disturbance extending into portions of southern West Virginia.
• Extreme Cold in Pennsylvania, January 30, 20262 eventsBeneath weak, broad high pressure, minimum wind chill values generally dropped into the negative single digits with isolated colder patches including KUCP and KDUJ which recorded wind chills into the -20s.
• Heavy Snow in Kentucky, January 30 to 31, 20263 eventsA strong upper-level trough and an intensifying coastal low off the Eastern Seaboard combined to produce a fluffy snowfall event across southeastern Kentucky from January 30th through January 31st, 2026.
• Winter Storm in North Carolina, January 30 to 31, 20269 eventsA low pressure system moved eastward along the Gulf Coast on January 30 and intensified as it reached the Georgia and South Carolina coastline by January 31.
• Heavy Snow in Virginia, January 30 to 31, 20265 eventsA heavy snowstorm struck portions of southwestern Virginia at the end of the month, thanks to strong lift from a deep upper trough diving from north to south.
• Cold in Missouri, January 30 to 31, 20264 eventsAn Arctic cold front moved through southeast Missouri on the morning of the 30th, bringing cold temperatures down to the teens. Blustery northwest winds caused wind chills to fall around -5 to -10.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Tennessee, January 30 to 31, 20263 deaths · 36 eventsA significant snowstorm struck portions of East Tennessee at the end of the month, thanks to strong lift from a deep upper trough diving from north to south. A couple of long term cooperative weather stations saw top 10 snowfalls during this storm.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, January 30 to 31, 20268 eventsFor the second time in a week, a winter storm impacted the North Carolina mountains as an area of low pressure intensified across the Deep South. In this case, all precipitation fell as snow.
• Winter Storm in Indiana, January 30 to 31, 20262 eventsLake effect snow developed during the early evening of January 30th across far northwest Indiana and continued into the early morning hours of January 31st.
• Winter Storm in Georgia, January 30 to 31, 202648 eventsAn anomalously deep upper low barreled into the region on Saturday, January 31, bringing very cold temperatures.
• Winter Storm in Virginia, January 30 to 31, 20266 eventsAn upper low and subsequent coastal low pressure both brought snow to the region in late January of 2026. Heavy snow was focused across the southeast part of the state, especially near the North Carolina border.
• Winter Storm in South Carolina, January 30 to 31, 202611 eventsA coastal low offshore and upper trough combined with deep arctic air led to significant snowfall across the Carolinas.
• Extreme Cold in Pennsylvania, January 30 to 31, 20265 eventsUnder strong 1027 mb high pressure, light wind allowed for efficient radiational cooling and minimum wind chill values to dip to -10 to -20F areawide with some spots below -20F, mostly in sheltered areas and higher elevations.
• Extreme Cold in Ohio, January 30 to 31, 20263 eventsUnder strong 1027 mb high pressure, light wind allowed for efficient radiational cooling and minimum wind chill values to dip to -10 to -20F areawide with some spots below -20F, mostly in sheltered areas and higher elevations.
• Winter Storm in North Carolina, January 30 to 31, 20269 eventsA coastal low offshore and upper trough combined with deep arctic air led to significant snowfall across the Carolinas.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, January 30 to 31, 202616 eventsFor the second time in a week, a winter storm impacted the mountains and foothills of North Carolina as an area of low pressure intensified across the Deep South. In this case, all precipitation fell as snow.
• Cold in Kentucky, January 30 to 31, 202615 eventsAn Arctic cold front moved through western Kentucky on the morning of the 30th, bringing cold temperatures down to the teens. Blustery northwest winds caused wind chills to fall around -5 to -7 the night of the 30th into the morning of the 31st.
• Heavy Snow in South Carolina, January 30 to 31, 20263 eventsFor the second time in a week, a winter storm impacted the South Carolina mountains as an area of low pressure intensified across the Deep South. In this case, all precipitation fell as snow.
• Heavy Snow in Georgia, January 30 to 31, 20261 eventFor the second time in a week, a winter storm impacted the mountains of northeast Georgia as an area of low pressure intensified across the Deep South. In this case\, all precipitation fell as snow.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, January 30 to 31, 20262 eventsA heavy snowstorm struck portions of southwestern North Carolina at the end of the month, thanks to strong lift from a deep upper trough diving from north to south.
• Cold in Tennessee, January 31, 20264 eventsWind chill temperatures dropped into the 5 above to 4 below zero range.
• Winter Weather in Tennessee, January 31, 20261 eventIntermittent light snow and flurries occurred during the 31st. Snow accumulations of 0.5 inch or less were reported.
• Cold in Indiana, January 31, 20265 eventsAn Arctic cold front moved through southwest Indiana on the morning of the 30th, bringing cold temperatures down to the teens. Blustery northwest winds caused wind chills to fall around -5 to -7 on the morning of the 31st.
• Winter Weather in Alabama, January 31, 20262 eventsIntermittent light snow and flurries occurred during the 31st. Snow accumulations of 1.0 inch or less were reported.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, January 31, 202610 eventsFor the second time in a week, a winter storm impacted the North Carolina Piedmont as an area of low pressure intensified across the Deep South. In this case, all precipitation fell as snow.
• Heavy Snow in South Carolina, January 31, 20262 eventsFor the second time in a week, a winter storm impacted the South Carolina Piedmont as an area of low pressure intensified across the Deep South. In this case, all precipitation fell as snow.
• Cold in Alabama, January 31, 202619 eventsWind chill temperatures dropped into the 5 above to 2 below zero range.
• Heavy Snow in South Carolina, January 31, 20269 eventsFor the second time in a week, a winter storm impacted the Piedmont and foothills of South Carolina as an area of low pressure intensified across the Deep South. In this case, the bulk of the precipitation fell as snow.
• Heavy Snow in Georgia, January 31, 20263 eventsFor the second time in a week, a winter storm impacted the Piedmont and foothills of northeast Georgia as an area of low pressure intensified across the Deep South. In this case, the bulk of the precipitation fell as snow.
• Heavy Snow in South Carolina, January 31, 20263 eventsFor the second time in a week, a winter storm impacted the Piedmont of upstate South Carolina as an area of low pressure intensified across the Deep South.
• Heavy Snow in Georgia, January 31, 20262 eventsFor the second time in a week, a winter storm impacted the Piedmont of northeast Georgia as an area of low pressure intensified across the Deep South. In this case, after a brief period of rain, or a mix of rain and snow at the outset, the bulk of the precipitation fell as snow.
• Cold in Mississippi, January 31, 20261 death · $5.8 million · 22 eventsA dry, mid-level shortwave aid in the push of another cold front in late January. Another arctic airmass residing behind this boundary resulting in another bitterly cold period.
• Cold in Tennessee, January 31, 202621 eventsA dry, mid-level shortwave aid in the push of another cold front in late January. Another arctic airmass residing behind this boundary resulting in another bitterly cold period.
• Heavy Snow in South Carolina, January 31, 202620 eventsA unique snow setup for South Carolina developed as a strong coastal low strengthening offshore, while a upper level disturbance shifted over our area.
• Cold in Arkansas, January 31, 202610 eventsA dry, mid-level shortwave aid in the push of another cold front in late January. Another arctic airmass residing behind this boundary resulting in another bitterly cold period.
• Winter Weather in Alabama, January 31, 20262 eventsAn upper low moving from Tennessee into Georgia produced scattered flurries and light snow showers across Central Alabama during the morning of January 31.
• Cold in Missouri, January 31, 20262 eventsA dry, mid-level shortwave aid in the push of another cold front in late January. Another arctic airmass residing behind this boundary resulting in another bitterly cold period.
• Winter Storm and High Wind in North Carolina, January 31, 202656 kt wind · 23 eventsA potent upper-level low tracked south and then southeast from the Upper Midwest to the Southeast during the weekend of Friday January 30th to Sunday February 1st. At the same time, a baroclinic zone set up along the offshore waters of Georgia, westwards to the Deep South.
• Extreme Cold in West Virginia, January 31, 20261 eventUnder strong 1027 mb high pressure, light wind allowed for efficient radiational cooling and minimum wind chill values to dip to -10 to -20F areawide with some spots below -20F, mostly in sheltered areas and higher elevations.
• Winter Storm in North Carolina, January 31, 202628 eventsAn area of low pressure along the Georgia coast on 31 January intensified as it tracks off the North Carolina coast into the early morning hours of 1 February.
• Heavy Snow in Georgia, January 31, 20265 eventsA unique snow setup for GA developed as a strong coastal low strengthening offshore, while a upper level disturbance shifted over our area.
• Extreme Cold and Heavy Snow in South Carolina, January 31, 20261 death · 1 injured · 17 eventsA winter storm impacted much of southeast South Carolina with significant snow accumulations and very cold wind chill temperatures. An area of low pressure shifted off the Southeast coast while deepening, ushering in a very cold air mass across the region.
• Extreme Cold and Heavy Snow in Georgia, January 31, 202616 eventsA winter storm impacted much of southeast Georgia with significant snow accumulations and very cold wind chill temperatures. An area of low pressure shifted off the Southeast coast while deepening, ushering in a very cold air mass across the region.
• Extreme Cold and Winter Weather in South Carolina, February 1, 20262 deaths · 2 injured · 9 eventsA winter storm impacted much of southeast South Carolina with significant snow accumulations on January 31st along with very cold wind chill temperatures persisting into late morning February 1st.
• Extreme Cold and Cold in Ohio, February 1 to 11, 20261 death · 1 injured · 10 eventsA period of extremely cold temperatures that began in late January spilled into the first week of February amid a cold airmass dominating the bulk of the country.
• Cold in West Virginia, February 1 to 10, 202640 eventsVery cold temperatures triumphing over West Virginia that began at the end of January spilled into the start February.
• Extreme Cold and Cold in Virginia, February 1 to 2, 202629 eventsA rather anomalous Arctic Outbreak continued into the first couple days of February. The remarkable aspect of this outbreak was the duration, as it extends well back into January. For the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Highlands, minimum wind chills of -20 to -30F were observed.
• Extreme Cold in Florida, February 1, 202627 eventsAn Arctic airmass descended upon the tri-state area during the early morning hours of February 1st. Actual low temperatures reached the upper teens to lower 20s in many location, but the combination of strong winds drove wind chills down into the single digits to lower teens.
• Extreme Cold in Georgia, February 1, 202626 eventsAn Arctic airmass descended upon the tri-state area during the early morning hours of February 1st. Actual low temperatures reached the upper teens to lower 20s in many location, but the combination of strong winds drove wind chills down into the single digits to lower teens.
• Winter Storm and Coastal Flood in North Carolina, February 1 to 2, 202661 kt wind · 25 eventsA potent upper-level low tracked south and then southeast from the Upper Midwest to the Southeast during the weekend of Friday January 30th to Sunday February 1st. At the same time, a baroclinic zone set up along the offshore waters of Georgia, westwards to the Deep South.
• Cold in New York, February 1, 202623 eventsA multi-day period of frigid conditions continued into the beginning of February across much of eastern New York. Wind chill values during the morning hours on February 1 dropped to as low as 10 to 30 degrees below zero for most areas.
• Cold in North Carolina, February 1, 202618 eventsDangerous cold that began during the morning of the 31st across the North Carolina Piedmont and foothills continued through the morning of the 1st.
• Extreme Cold and Cold in Maryland, February 1 to 2, 202618 eventsA rather anomalous Arctic Outbreak continued into the first couple days of February. The remarkable aspect of this outbreak was the duration, as it extends well back into January. For portions of western Maryland, minimum wind chills of -20 to -30F were observed.
• Extreme Cold in North Carolina, February 1, 202616 eventsLife-threatening cold that began during the afternoon of the 31st continued through the morning of the 1st across the North Carolina mountains.
• Cold in South Carolina, February 1, 202614 eventsDangerous cold that began during the morning of the 31st across the South Carolina Piedmont and foothills continued through the morning of the 1st.
• Extreme Cold and Cold in West Virginia, February 1 to 2, 202611 eventsA rather anomalous Arctic Outbreak continued into the first couple days of February. The remarkable aspect of this outbreak was the duration, as it extends well back into January. For the mountains, minimum wind chills of -20 to -30F were observed.
• Winter Storm in South Carolina, February 1, 202611 eventsA coastal low offshore and upper trough combined with deep arctic air led to significant snowfall across the Carolinas.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, February 1, 202610 eventsAn upper low and subsequent coastal low pressure brought heavy snow to northeastern North Carolina from January 31 to February 1, 2026. Heavy snow was focused along the coast with lower amounts with westward extent.
• Extreme Cold in Georgia, February 1, 202610 eventsA winter storm impacted southeast Georgia on January 31st, ushering a very cold airmass into the area as deepening low pressure shifted off the Southeast Coast on February 1st.
• Heavy Snow in South Carolina, February 1, 20269 eventsA unique snow setup for South Carolina continued into February 1st as a strong coastal low strengthening offshore, while a upper level disturbance shifted over our area.
• Winter Storm in North Carolina, February 1, 20269 eventsA coastal low offshore and upper trough combined with deep arctic air led to significant snowfall across the Carolinas.
• Heavy Snow in Virginia, February 1, 20266 eventsAn upper low and subsequent coastal low pressure both brought snow to the region from January 31 to February 1, 2026. Heavy snow was focused across the southeast part of the state, especially near the North Carolina border.
• Cold in Georgia, February 1, 20265 eventsDangerous cold that began during the morning of the 31st across northeast Georgia continued through the morning of the 1st.
• Extreme Cold in Alabama, February 1, 20265 eventsAn Arctic airmass descended upon the tri-state area during the early morning hours of February 1st. Actual low temperatures reached the upper teens to lower 20s in many location, but the combination of strong winds drove wind chills down into the single digits to lower teens.
• Cold in South Carolina, February 1, 20263 eventsLife-threatening cold that began during the afternoon of the 31st continued through the morning of the 1st across the South Carolina mountains.
• Winter Storm in North Carolina, February 1, 20263 eventsAn area of low pressure along the Georgia coast on 31 January intensified as it tracks off the North Carolina coast into the early morning hours of 1 February.
• Cold in Vermont, February 1, 20263 eventsA multi-day period of frigid conditions continued into the beginning of February across much of southern Vermont. Wind chill values during the morning hours on February 1 dropped to as low as 10 to 30 degrees below zero for most areas.
• Cold in Connecticut, February 1, 20262 eventsA multi-day period of frigid conditions continued into the beginning of February across northwestern Connecticut. Wind chill values during the morning hours on February 1 dropped to as low as 10 to 20 degrees below zero for most areas.
• Cold in Virginia, February 1 to 2, 20262 eventsThe beginning of February featured very cold temperatures and wind chills that began during late January across southwest Virginia.
• Cold in Massachusetts, February 1, 20262 eventsA multi-day period of frigid conditions continued into the beginning of February across much of western Massachusetts. Wind chill values during the morning hours on February 1 dropped to as low as 10 to 20 degrees below zero for most areas.
• Cold in District of Columbia, February 1 to 2, 20261 eventA rather anomalous Arctic Outbreak continued into the first couple days of February. The remarkable aspect of this outbreak was the duration, as it extends well back into January. Minimum wind chills of -10 to -20F were observed. The coldest wind chills were overnight.
• Extreme Cold in Georgia, February 1, 20261 eventLife-threatening cold that began during the afternoon of the 31st continued through the morning of the 1st across the high elevations of northeast Georgia.
• Cold in Indiana, February 1 to 2, 20261 death · 3 eventsA ridge of high pressure moved into the region on the morning of the 1st. Temperatures plummeted into the single digits. Although winds were mainly light, a few locations still manage to see wind chills fall between -5 to -10.
• Cold in Alabama, February 1, 202611 eventsWind chill temperatures dropped into the 5 above to 1 above zero range.
• Cold in Texas, February 1, 20264 eventsA cool start to the month followed the passage of a previous cold air mass, with brisk morning temperatures across South Texas. Several reporting sites reported wind chills at or below 25 degF for at least 2 hours.
• Cold in Tennessee, February 1, 20263 eventsWind chill temperatures dropped into the 5 above to 3 below zero range.
• Extreme Cold in Virginia, February 1, 20262 eventsAn upper low and subsequent coastal low pressure brought strong winds and cold temperatures to the region in early February.
• Extreme Cold in North Carolina, February 1, 20262 eventsAn upper low and subsequent coastal low pressure brought strong winds and cold temperatures to the region in early February.
• Cold in Missouri, February 1, 20261 eventA ridge of high pressure moved into the region on the morning of the 1st. Temperatures plummeted into the single digits. Although winds were mainly light, a few locations still manage to see wind chills fall between -9 to -14.
• Extreme Cold in Pennsylvania, February 1, 20261 eventCold air in the wake of a low-pressure system tracking into the Atlantic Ocean coupled with strong winds due to a fairly strong pressure gradient allowed for dangerously cold wind chills across portions of central Pennsylvania.
• Cold in Mississippi, February 1, 20261 death · 22 eventsA Canadian airmass encompassed the region on the morning of February 1. This airmass intensified to 1040mb allowing temperatures to fall below freezing to kick off the month.
• Cold in Tennessee, February 1, 20261 death · 21 eventsA Canadian airmass encompassed the region on the morning of February 1. This airmass intensified to 1040mb allowing temperatures to fall below freezing to kick off the month.
• Cold in Arkansas, February 1, 202610 eventsA Canadian airmass encompassed the region on the morning of February 1. This airmass intensified to 1040mb allowing temperatures to fall below freezing to kick off the month.
• Extreme Cold in Indiana, February 1, 20263 eventsA deep upper trough reinforced by a series of short waves plunging arctic air through interior North America, maintained persistent anomalous cold over central Indiana through January 2026's final week and February 1st, which was enhanced by a deep snow pack over most zones.
• Winter Weather in Michigan, February 1, 20262 eventsA fast moving system produced 3 to 5 inches of snow across southwest Lower Michigan, with amounts in the 1 to 4 inch range across south central Lower Michigan.
• Cold in Missouri, February 1, 20262 eventsA Canadian airmass encompassed the region on the morning of February 1. This airmass intensified to 1040mb allowing temperatures to fall below freezing to kick off the month.
• Cold in Illinois, February 1, 20263 eventsA ridge of high pressure moved into the region on the morning of the 1st. Temperatures plummeted into the single digits. Although winds were mainly light, a few locations still manage to see wind chills fall between -5 to -10.
• Cold in New York, February 1 to 2, 202613 eventsA cold air mass persisted across eastern New York during the early morning hours on February 2, 2026.
• Cold in Massachusetts, February 1 to 2, 20262 eventsA cold air mass persisted across western Massachusetts during the early morning hours on February 2, 2026.
• Cold in Connecticut, February 1 to 2, 20261 eventA cold air mass persisted across northwestern Connecticut during the early morning hours on February 2, 2026.
• Cold in South Carolina, February 2, 20261 death · 1 injured · 1 eventHigh pressure and light/calm winds led to a strong radiational cooling night across Southeast South Carolina, supporting temperatures in the mid-upper teens inland to the lower-mid 20s near coastal areas.

The snowstorm of January 23 to 26, 2026The snowstorm of February 22 to 24, 2026Snow nowEvery winter storm filed

NOAA NCEI Regional Snowfall Index, and the Storm Events Database for the episodes.