Submitted by @RyanMaue,

A meteorologist's main purpose: keep you alive, and marked safe.

There is nothing we can do to stop this epic week of weather, and believe me, I have been trying to find silver linings or rays of sunlight.

So, the best preparation is fresh, accurate, and expert information from trusted sources.

While every new weather model run (alphabet soup of acronyms) shows slight adjustments in who gets the most freezing rain (ice) and snowfall❄️ there is little doubt about the aftermath of the massive ice storm: hazardous cold like January 21, 1985 when the United States average low temperature sunk to 4°F.

Many of these record lows are still standing.

⚠️You should be prepared for extended power outages with subzero temperatures outdoors. Think about where you can go, what you can do, and who needs even more help to survive this week ahead. This is not hype or a joke.

Temperature Analysis January 21, 1985

Let's dig in (or out) of this Winter Storm that is actually 2 waves of moisture that finally consolidate into a rather powerful Nor'easter.

If you're younger than 40 years old, then you may be experiencing the worst winter weather of your lifetime depending upon where you are over the next 10-14 days.

Plan for extended power outages with brutally cold temperatures for many days. pic.twitter.com/GYaXpU3A8Z

— Ryan Maue (@RyanMaue) January 22, 2026

ECMWF 12z HRES Precipitation Type and Intensity

A massive "slug of moisture" will stream out of the subtropical Pacific and then the Gulf of Mexico to combine into an "atmospheric river". Normally that would be heavy rain and maybe snowfall where the air is below freezing.

Not this time -- we will have extremely cold Arctic air flooding southward: and the atmospheric river will go up and over the more dense cold air near the surface. When the warmer subtropical moisture falls through the : it turns to snow or freezing rain or sleet . . .

[SNIP]