Southern U.S. – A widespread ice storm brought extreme sleet and freezing rain accumulations across the South and lower Midwest from January 23 through January 26, with Arkansas and Louisiana recording the highest sleet totals, according to preliminary storm reports.
The most significant sleet accumulations were observed in Arkansas, where Adams Field / Clinton National Airport measured 6.70 inches of sleet, the highest reported total nationally. Searcy reported 6.30 inches, while Catholic Point and Centreville each recorded 5.50 inches. Several additional Arkansas locations exceeded 5 inches, making the state the hardest hit by sleet during the event.
In Louisiana, sleet totals peaked at 6.00 inches in Ringgold, with Dubach reporting 5.00 inches. Numerous locations across northern Louisiana, including Bossier City, Arcadia, Gibsland, Ruston, Shreveport, and Stonewall, reported 3 to 4.5 inches, compounding travel and infrastructure impacts.
Mississippi also experienced severe sleet accumulation, led by Marks with 5.50 inches and Looxahoma with 5.30 inches, while multiple Delta communities exceeded 4 inches. In Tennessee, sleet totals reached 5.00 inches in Arlington and Ripley, with the Memphis metro reporting 3 to 5 inches.
Farther north and east, Virginia reported sleet totals up to 3.50 inches, while West Virginia peaked at 4.00 inches near Hinton. Texas and Oklahoma also saw widespread sleet accumulations between 2 and 5 inches, particularly across north and east Texas and southeastern Oklahoma.
Freezing rain further intensified impacts. Ice accretion reached 1.00 inch in parts of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, with widespread half-inch ice totals reported across the Deep South, leading to downed trees, power outages, and impassable roads.
The January 23–26 system stands out as one of the most significant ice storms of the winter season, driven by prolonged sleet and freezing rain rather than snowfall, with Arkansas and Louisiana experiencing the most extreme impacts.
