Bomb Cyclone to Bring Major Winter Storm to Southeast

Northeast could see a glancing blow or significant snowfall

Jan. 29, 2026 at 8:15am

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A rapidly strengthening storm is expected to develop off the Southeast coast this weekend, bringing a high likelihood of snow and strong winds to parts of the Southeast and southern Virginia. Farther north, the storm's path is a close shave for the Northeast, but southeast New England is in the bull's-eye of the region's biggest threats.

Why it matters

This storm has the potential to cause significant disruption and damage across the Southeast and Northeast, with the possibility of blizzard conditions, coastal flooding, and power outages in some areas. It comes on the heels of a deadly winter storm last weekend, compounding impacts for communities still working to recover.

The details

Computer forecast models are increasingly aligned on a low-pressure system forming off the Carolinas early Saturday and intensifying rapidly into a bomb cyclone. Locations along the coast in the Southeast could see blizzard conditions and significant coastal flooding, with the highest snow totals expected closer to the coast in North Carolina and Virginia. Farther north, forecast confidence drops sharply, with the storm's eventual track playing a critical role in determining impacts for the mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

  • The storm is expected to develop off the Southeast coast early Saturday.
  • Snow and strong winds are likely to begin Friday night into Saturday across the Southeast.
  • Snow is expected to continue into Sunday morning, tapering off from west to east during the day.

The players

Briana Waxman

A CNN Meteorologist who authored the report.

Chris Dolce

A CNN Meteorologist who contributed to the report.

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What they’re saying

“Wind gusts near hurricane-force will coincide with astronomical high tides, producing moderate to locally significant coastal flooding.”

— NOAA's Weather Prediction Center

What’s next

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The takeaway

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