Texas Braces for Freeze as New York Faces Increasing Weekend Snow Risks
A massive winter storm is set to sweep across a significant portion of the United States starting Friday, bringing freezing temperatures to Texas before advancing up the East Coast. By Sunday, cities like New York and Boston are facing a strong likelihood of heavy snowfall.
Air travel disruptions are anticipated, and the extreme cold poses a risk of power outages, particularly in Texas, where the state’s electrical grid will once again be put to the test. Potential blackouts could create hazardous conditions, as many residents depend on electricity for heating.
According to Brian Hurley, a senior branch forecaster with the US Weather Prediction Center, the storm threatens to deliver as much as 60 hours of below-freezing temperatures across large areas of Texas. The cold front is expected to arrive on Friday, affecting regions including the oil-rich Permian Basin. Rain, snow, and ice will spread across the state throughout the weekend, raising concerns about disruptions to natural gas production.
In Abilene, Texas, temperatures are forecasted to plummet to 12°F (-11°C) on Friday night, remaining below the freezing mark of 32°F through at least Sunday, as reported by the National Weather Service. Midland is expected to drop to 13°F Friday night, with a high of only 19°F on Saturday and a low of 9°F later in the day.
“The great state of Texas is going to see it all,” Hurley noted. “Snow in the north, rain in the south, and everything in between.”
The storm will subsequently bring snow and ice to the South and Mid-Atlantic regions, increasing the risk of widespread power outages and causing significant delays in air travel across the country. Southern airports typically have less de-icing equipment, which can lead to cascading delays throughout the system.
Atlanta, a major airline hub, faces a 50% chance of receiving at least a quarter inch of ice on Saturday. As the storm progresses northward on Sunday, delays and cancellations are likely to extend into New York and the Northeast.
“It is going to be a big problem,” Hurley warned. “It would be tough if you were leaving on Sunday.”
Meanwhile, the likelihood of snow in New York City and Boston on Sunday is also increasing. Computer forecast models have consistently shifted the storm’s path further north with each update.
“The trend is there for New York City and Boston for this to be a pretty good snow event,” Hurley stated.
Currently, a winter storm watch extends from New Mexico eastward through Tennessee and Alabama, according to the National Weather Service. Winter weather advisories and storm warnings are in effect from North Dakota through the Great Lakes into western New York.
In New York City, a hazardous weather outlook has been issued, echoing Hurley’s warning that “confidence is increasing in the potential for a significant winter storm to impact the area Sunday into Monday with accumulating snowfall.”
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A massive winter storm is set to sweep across a significant portion of the United States starting Friday, bringing freezing temperatures to Texas before advancing up the East Coast. By Sunday, cities like New York and Boston are facing a strong likelihood of heavy snowfall.
Air travel disruptions are anticipated, and the extreme cold poses a risk of power outages, particularly in Texas, where the state’s electrical grid will once again be put to the test. Potential blackouts could create hazardous conditions, as many residents depend on electricity for heating.
According to Brian Hurley, a senior branch forecaster with the US Weather Prediction Center, the storm threatens to deliver as much as 60 hours of below-freezing temperatures across large areas of Texas. The cold front is expected to arrive on Friday, affecting regions including the oil-rich Permian Basin. Rain, snow, and ice will spread across the state throughout the weekend, raising concerns about disruptions to natural gas production.
In Abilene, Texas, temperatures are forecasted to plummet to 12°F (-11°C) on Friday night, remaining below the freezing mark of 32°F through at least Sunday, as reported by the National Weather Service. Midland is expected to drop to 13°F Friday night, with a high of only 19°F on Saturday and a low of 9°F later in the day.
“The great state of Texas is going to see it all,” Hurley noted. “Snow in the north, rain in the south, and everything in between.”
The storm will subsequently bring snow and ice to the South and Mid-Atlantic regions, increasing the risk of widespread power outages and causing significant delays in air travel across the country. Southern airports typically have less de-icing equipment, which can lead to cascading delays throughout the system.
Atlanta, a major airline hub, faces a 50% chance of receiving at least a quarter inch of ice on Saturday. As the storm progresses northward on Sunday, delays and cancellations are likely to extend into New York and the Northeast.
“It is going to be a big problem,” Hurley warned. “It would be tough if you were leaving on Sunday.”
Meanwhile, the likelihood of snow in New York City and Boston on Sunday is also increasing. Computer forecast models have consistently shifted the storm’s path further north with each update.
“The trend is there for New York City and Boston for this to be a pretty good snow event,” Hurley stated.
Currently, a winter storm watch extends from New Mexico eastward through Tennessee and Alabama, according to the National Weather Service. Winter weather advisories and storm warnings are in effect from North Dakota through the Great Lakes into western New York.
In New York City, a hazardous weather outlook has been issued, echoing Hurley’s warning that “confidence is increasing in the potential for a significant winter storm to impact the area Sunday into Monday with accumulating snowfall.”
Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.
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