Major Winter Storm Shifts, Threatens 160 Million People as 12 Inches of Snow Approach
Over the past several days, meteorologists have been tracking a major winter storm that was expected to bring heavy snow and ice to much of the country. While that storm was initially expected to threaten the southern portion of the United States, it appears that the storm has shifted.
As the significant winter storm approaches, the most recent models suggest that the storm will strike much further north than originally expected, which could cause some problems for around 160 million Americans in some of the country's largest cities.
Major Shift to the North
Digital meteorologist Ryan Hall, who has dubbed himself "The Internet's Weather Man," detailed a significant shift in this weekend's weather forecast as he shared that all of the major weather prediction models have now predicted a significant shift in the storm.
"The European model shifted nearly 200 miles in 12 hours. The GFS came with it. So did the NAM, the ensemble means, and even the AI guidance. When you see that kind of agreement across the board, you have to pay attention," Hall wrote in a post on X.
— Ryan Hall, Y’all (@ryanhallyall) January 21, 2026
That said, Hall still expects a major winter storm this weekend. However, the center of that storm has just shifted considerably.
"This doesn't change the big picture. A major winter storm is still coming Friday through the weekend. We're still looking at around 160 million people under the gun for wintry precipitation by Sunday morning. Winter Storm Watches now stretch from New Mexico to Tennessee and they'll keep expanding today," Hall added.
"What's changed is where the bullseye lands. And for a lot of people in the transition zone, that matters a lot."
Where Did The Storm Shift?
The sudden shift means that some of the country's largest cities are now in the path of a significant snowstorm, as Hall points out.
"The northern trend is good news for the I-95 corridor," Hall wrote. "Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and even New York City are now being pulled into the significant snow zone. The NWS New York discussion mentioned a plowable snowfall event as possible. That wasn't on the table 48 hours ago."
The shift also means that the Deep South, which was expecting heavy snow, might not see the same type of precipitation.
"The northern trend is less good news for the Deep South and parts of the Mid-South. A farther north track brings warmer air aloft faster, which shifts the snow/ice/rain lines. Areas that looked locked in for heavy snow are now seeing more uncertainty about precipitation type," Hall wrote.
Still, the snowstorm is expected to stretch across the country.
More Than 12 Inches of Snow
While it's still a bit too early to know exactly how much snow will hit anywhere in the country, Hall predicts that the Mid-Atlantic region is now "in the crosshairs" and could receive the heaviest snow from the storm.
"This is where the shift matters most," Hall wrote. "Roanoke, Richmond, Norfolk, Washington. These areas are now solidly in the significant snow corridor. Local NWS offices are calling this a split flow pattern, something we haven't seen yet this winter, and historically favorable for notable winter storms in Virginia."
Hall points out that the National Weather Service in Richmond is anticipating that more than 12 inches of snow could fall in the region.
"The NWS Richmond is calling for 3 to 12 inches with the caveat that more than 12 inches is on the table. They've also flagged ice accumulation potential if snow transitions to freezing rain Sunday afternoon and evening," Hall wrote.
Hall added that traveling could be "dangerous to impossible" on Sunday into Monday.
"This system will have plenty of cold air to work with. That leads to higher snow totals with more time in the falling snow. Dangerous to impossible travel is expected Saturday through Monday. Temperatures stay below freezing through Wednesday morning," Hall added.
Major Cities Impacted
The storm's shift also means that major cities in the Northeast like D.C., New York City, Baltimore, and Philadelphia could now face significant snowfall. However, it's still too early to know just how much accumulation there could be.
Hall warns that the region could see anything from no snow cover to more than a foot of snow.
"But I would be careful with snow maps for the Northeast this far out. There's still significant uncertainty with the amplitude and progression of both the Southwest trough and the north stream trough. Until we have a better handle on these features, we can't reliably rule out anything from no snow to over a foot between the NYC to Boston corridor," Hall wrote.
That said, Hall did provide some estimates of potential heavy snow in the area.
"Current thinking puts D.C. at 4 to 8 inches, Baltimore similar, Philadelphia at 3 to 6 with lots of uncertainty, New York at 2 to 5 but possibly higher if trends continue, and Boston at 1 to 3 unless we get secondary coastal development," Hall wrote.
Travel Impacts
As Hall pointed out, the storm could produce conditions where travel is extremely difficult or even impossible throughout the weekend into next week.
If you do have to drive in this weather, it’s important to make sure your vehicle is ready for these conditions, including your snow tires, even if they appear to have plenty of tread. There are also several important items you should be sure to have in your road safety kit before you hit the road in winter weather conditions.
Additionally, these extreme conditions will almost certainly impact air travel across the country as some of the busiest airports in the country are in the crosshairs of this significant winter storm.
If you are flying to, through, or from anywhere in this region over the weekend, keep an eye on your flight information to ensure everything is still going as planned.