Memphis, Tennessee — One hundred sixty million Americans are prepared and monitoring a major winter system now evolving into a dangerous ice storm scenario, as freezing rain and ice accumulation threaten parts of Louisiana and Missouri through Monday, Jan. 26.
For this central U.S. corridor, the primary hazard is freezing rain rather than snow. According to the National Weather Service, a shallow layer of Arctic air near the surface combined with warmer air aloft will create ideal conditions for ice accretion from northern Louisiana through eastern Arkansas and into southern and central Missouri.
The National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center places the Louisiana–Missouri corridor within a moderate to high-confidence zone for impactful icing from Friday through Sunday. Ice accumulations of one-quarter inch or more are possible, with localized areas potentially seeing higher totals capable of downing trees and power lines.
Travel conditions are expected to deteriorate rapidly as freezing rain develops. Major transportation routes at risk include Interstate 55, Interstate 44, Interstate 40, and Interstate 49. Transportation officials warn that bridges, overpasses, and untreated roads may become impassable, and road treatments may be ineffective during prolonged icing.
Utility providers across the region are preparing for the possibility of widespread power outages as ice loads increase on infrastructure. Emergency officials are urging residents to complete storm preparations immediately, including charging devices, securing alternative heat sources, and avoiding travel once freezing rain begins.
Motorists are strongly advised to stay off roads during freezing rain events, as even thin ice can cause severe crashes and strand vehicles. Emergency response times may be delayed if conditions worsen rapidly.
Behind the storm, Arctic air is expected to surge southward, keeping temperatures well below freezing across Louisiana, Arkansas, and Missouri. This will prevent ice from melting and extend hazardous conditions well after precipitation ends.
While a possible pattern shift may occur between Jan. 28 and Feb. 1, forecasters caution that much of the Midwest and East Coast will remain locked in a deep Arctic freeze into early February, prolonging ice-related impacts across the region.
