Best winter storm photos show surreal scenes from Texas to New England
- - Best winter storm photos show surreal scenes from Texas to New England
Joel Shannon, USA TODAY January 26, 2026 at 5:26 AM
0
Ice-covered trees fell across a road in Nashville. A father and son went sledding on the street in Texas. Plows drove through a barrage of snow in Tarrytown, New York.
Oh, and icicles. Icicles everywhere.
These are the scenes captured in photos as a deadly winter storm impacted states from Texas to New England, leaving a swath of the nation covered in snow and ice.
the worst winter storm of the season, followed by some of the coldest temperatures seen in years. The storm began out of Texas and Oklahoma Friday evening, hitting the region with heavy sleet and snow. Forecasters have warned of "catastrophic" ice accumulation. On Saturday, the system is expected to push towards Virginia, dumping a foot of snow or more on parts of the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic, while New England sees double-digit subzero temperatures. See the dramatic scenes of frigid cold temperatures, beginning here with an image of a jogger on the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge in Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 24, 2026.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Much of the nation east of the Rocky Mountains is hunkered down for what could be the worst winter storm of the season, followed by some of the coldest temperatures seen in years. The storm began out of Texas and Oklahoma Friday evening, hitting the region with heavy sleet and snow. Forecasters have warned of "catastrophic" ice accumulation. On Saturday, the system is expected to push towards Virginia, dumping a foot of snow or more on parts of the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic, while New England sees double-digit subzero temperatures. See the dramatic scenes of frigid cold temperatures, beginning here with an image of a jogger on the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge in Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 24, 2026.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/l1j3eXXACqaUsdUUfSZNtA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/e56dcf6b337044e67b2c2a1bd059d3b2 class=caas-img data-headline="See stunning photos from the massive winter storm blanketing the US" data-caption="
Much of the nation east of the Rocky Mountains is hunkered down for what could be the worst winter storm of the season, followed by some of the coldest temperatures seen in years. The storm began out of Texas and Oklahoma Friday evening, hitting the region with heavy sleet and snow. Forecasters have warned of "catastrophic" ice accumulation. On Saturday, the system is expected to push towards Virginia, dumping a foot of snow or more on parts of the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic, while New England sees double-digit subzero temperatures. See the dramatic scenes of frigid cold temperatures, beginning here with an image of a jogger on the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge in Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 24, 2026.
">Much of the nation east of the Rocky Mountains is hunkered down for what could be the worst winter storm of the season, followed by some of the coldest temperatures seen in years. The storm began out of Texas and Oklahoma Friday evening, hitting the region with heavy sleet and snow. Forecasters have warned of "catastrophic" ice accumulation. On Saturday, the system is expected to push towards Virginia, dumping a foot of snow or more on parts of the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic, while New England sees double-digit subzero temperatures. See the dramatic scenes of frigid cold temperatures, beginning here with an image of a jogger on the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge in Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 24, 2026.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/l1j3eXXACqaUsdUUfSZNtA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/e56dcf6b337044e67b2c2a1bd059d3b2 class=caas-img>
1 / 14See stunning photos from the massive winter storm blanketing the US
Much of the nation east of the Rocky Mountains is hunkered down for what could be the worst winter storm of the season, followed by some of the coldest temperatures seen in years. The storm began out of Texas and Oklahoma Friday evening, hitting the region with heavy sleet and snow. Forecasters have warned of "catastrophic" ice accumulation. On Saturday, the system is expected to push towards Virginia, dumping a foot of snow or more on parts of the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic, while New England sees double-digit subzero temperatures. See the dramatic scenes of frigid cold temperatures, beginning here with an image of a jogger on the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge in Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 24, 2026.
Power outages, flight cancellations, and cold weather dangers dominated the news, as Americans stuck rulers in piles of snow and crews worked feverishly to clear roads.
Journalists documented a stunning before-and-after video in Ohio.
A blanket of hazy white snow caused a surreal scene in Massachusetts.
More than an inch an hour of snow is falling Jan. 25 in Ashburnham at frozen Upper Naukeag Lake.
And in Louisville, Kentucky, an officer doing welfare checks got confused by a statue in the snow, according to a social media post from the Louisville Metro Police Dept.
Officer Richardson is so tired he accidentally did a welfare check on a statue in downtown. Go home, sir. pic.twitter.com/1KWr7pWlMY
— LMPD (@LMPD) January 25, 2026
That's just the beginning of the stunning photos and videos left in the wake of the winter storm. Follow along with USA TODAY's visual coverage of the snow, ice and freezing cold:
winter storm brought snow and ice to Middle Tennessee starting on Saturday.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Drivers navigate icy conditions on Briley Parkway in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. A winter storm brought snow and ice to Middle Tennessee starting on Saturday.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/lD0Vt2FJ1RmS0xewL5WYgg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/d7f36ca7d24edbaa4df7587ab016a24a class=caas-img data-headline="Massive winter storm blankets nation. See photos" data-caption="
Drivers navigate icy conditions on Briley Parkway in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. A winter storm brought snow and ice to Middle Tennessee starting on Saturday.
">Drivers navigate icy conditions on Briley Parkway in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. A winter storm brought snow and ice to Middle Tennessee starting on Saturday.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/lD0Vt2FJ1RmS0xewL5WYgg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/d7f36ca7d24edbaa4df7587ab016a24a class=caas-img>
major winter storm is forecast to spread heavy snow, sleet and dangerous ice to tens of millions of Americans across two dozen states starting on Friday and continuing into the weekend.See here, Keith Wilson, of Milwaukee, walks with frozen eyelashes down East State Street in Milwaukee on Jan. 23, 2026. The National Weather Service issued an extreme cold watch across Wisconsin with windchills between 30 and 40 below zero.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>A major winter storm is forecast to spread heavy snow, sleet and dangerous ice to tens of millions of Americans across two dozen states starting on Friday and continuing into the weekend.See here, Keith Wilson, of Milwaukee, walks with frozen eyelashes down East State Street in Milwaukee on Jan. 23, 2026. The National Weather Service issued an extreme cold watch across Wisconsin with windchills between 30 and 40 below zero.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/0.y2VLDtk4wJw4C_hfbnsg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/66fbd00798e240a6b9bf226f7708af1d class=caas-img data-headline="See fun faces of people making the best of winter weather" data-caption="
A major winter storm is forecast to spread heavy snow, sleet and dangerous ice to tens of millions of Americans across two dozen states starting on Friday and continuing into the weekend.See here, Keith Wilson, of Milwaukee, walks with frozen eyelashes down East State Street in Milwaukee on Jan. 23, 2026. The National Weather Service issued an extreme cold watch across Wisconsin with windchills between 30 and 40 below zero.
">A major winter storm is forecast to spread heavy snow, sleet and dangerous ice to tens of millions of Americans across two dozen states starting on Friday and continuing into the weekend.See here, Keith Wilson, of Milwaukee, walks with frozen eyelashes down East State Street in Milwaukee on Jan. 23, 2026. The National Weather Service issued an extreme cold watch across Wisconsin with windchills between 30 and 40 below zero.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/0.y2VLDtk4wJw4C_hfbnsg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/66fbd00798e240a6b9bf226f7708af1d class=caas-img>
Joe Gegelbach loads his trunk with ice melt at the Home Depot as he potential winter storm Evansville, Ind., Jan. 23, 2026.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/IOUdatPCMrBNRUgF.QtV7Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mzg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/8393b08c57ae813b720f3770d46123ea class=caas-img data-headline="Massive winter storm blankets nation. See photos" data-caption="
Joe Gegelbach loads his trunk with ice melt at the Home Depot as he potential winter storm Evansville, Ind., Jan. 23, 2026.
">Joe Gegelbach loads his trunk with ice melt at the Home Depot as he potential winter storm Evansville, Ind., Jan. 23, 2026.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/IOUdatPCMrBNRUgF.QtV7Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mzg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/8393b08c57ae813b720f3770d46123ea class=caas-img>Orangetown Highway Department crews load salt on snow plows in preparation for the snow storm at their facility in Orangeburg, N.Y., Jan. 23, 2026.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/P.BL3cUSzWG1YY6dLy.R1A--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD03Mjc-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/c1efe90d94f642758b9ed0907cf40822 class=caas-img data-headline="Massive winter storm blankets nation. See photos" data-caption="
Orangetown Highway Department crews load salt on snow plows in preparation for the snow storm at their facility in Orangeburg, N.Y., Jan. 23, 2026.
">Orangetown Highway Department crews load salt on snow plows in preparation for the snow storm at their facility in Orangeburg, N.Y., Jan. 23, 2026.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/P.BL3cUSzWG1YY6dLy.R1A--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD03Mjc-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/c1efe90d94f642758b9ed0907cf40822 class=caas-img>
1 / 34Massive winter storm blankets nation. See photos
Drivers navigate icy conditions on Briley Parkway in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. A winter storm brought snow and ice to Middle Tennessee starting on Saturday.
huge winter storm dumped heavy amounts of snow and ice across wide swaths of the U.S. See photos that capture the scale from around the country.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Eileen William of Tarrytown, NY gets the brunt of the snow being blown by her son William, as they clear the snow from their driveway at the height of the winter storm Jan. 25, 2026. The storm was predicted to drop up to a foot of snow on the lower Hudson Valley. A huge winter storm dumped heavy amounts of snow and ice across wide swaths of the U.S. See photos that capture the scale from around the country.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/mnvJQzO8gw.cxaYn06esPQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD03NjU-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/1d720f76c5226942c313ead161302e03 class=caas-img data-headline="How deep is the snow from the winter storm? Photos tell the story" data-caption="
Eileen William of Tarrytown, NY gets the brunt of the snow being blown by her son William, as they clear the snow from their driveway at the height of the winter storm Jan. 25, 2026. The storm was predicted to drop up to a foot of snow on the lower Hudson Valley. A huge winter storm dumped heavy amounts of snow and ice across wide swaths of the U.S. See photos that capture the scale from around the country.
">Eileen William of Tarrytown, NY gets the brunt of the snow being blown by her son William, as they clear the snow from their driveway at the height of the winter storm Jan. 25, 2026. The storm was predicted to drop up to a foot of snow on the lower Hudson Valley. A huge winter storm dumped heavy amounts of snow and ice across wide swaths of the U.S. See photos that capture the scale from around the country.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/mnvJQzO8gw.cxaYn06esPQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD03NjU-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/1d720f76c5226942c313ead161302e03 class=caas-img>
1 / 15How deep is the snow from the winter storm? Photos tell the story
Eileen William of Tarrytown, NY gets the brunt of the snow being blown by her son William, as they clear the snow from their driveway at the height of the winter storm Jan. 25, 2026. The storm was predicted to drop up to a foot of snow on the lower Hudson Valley. A huge winter storm dumped heavy amounts of snow and ice across wide swaths of the U.S. See photos that capture the scale from around the country.
the worst winter storm of the season, followed by some of the coldest temperatures seen in years. See animals and pets face the outdoors amid the intense storm, beginning here with a dog named Lee at Lake Hefner in Oklahoma City, Okla., Jan. 24, 2026.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Much of the nation east of the Rocky Mountains is hunkered down for what could be the worst winter storm of the season, followed by some of the coldest temperatures seen in years. See animals and pets face the outdoors amid the intense storm, beginning here with a dog named Lee at Lake Hefner in Oklahoma City, Okla., Jan. 24, 2026.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/7b3gnJr8Zfyoh5jKRHerEA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD03MzU-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/f848bb1bb387fcc8d30ebd17a48b7c5f class=caas-img data-headline="See animals and pets outdoors amid intense winter storm" data-caption="
Much of the nation east of the Rocky Mountains is hunkered down for what could be the worst winter storm of the season, followed by some of the coldest temperatures seen in years. See animals and pets face the outdoors amid the intense storm, beginning here with a dog named Lee at Lake Hefner in Oklahoma City, Okla., Jan. 24, 2026.
">Much of the nation east of the Rocky Mountains is hunkered down for what could be the worst winter storm of the season, followed by some of the coldest temperatures seen in years. See animals and pets face the outdoors amid the intense storm, beginning here with a dog named Lee at Lake Hefner in Oklahoma City, Okla., Jan. 24, 2026.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/7b3gnJr8Zfyoh5jKRHerEA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD03MzU-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/f848bb1bb387fcc8d30ebd17a48b7c5f class=caas-img>
1 / 5See animals and pets outdoors amid intense winter storm
Much of the nation east of the Rocky Mountains is hunkered down for what could be the worst winter storm of the season, followed by some of the coldest temperatures seen in years. See animals and pets face the outdoors amid the intense storm, beginning here with a dog named Lee at Lake Hefner in Oklahoma City, Okla., Jan. 24, 2026.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: These are some of the best winter storm photos showing surreal scenes
Source: “AOL Breaking”
