Blizzard Batters Carolinas, Thousands Without Power

Bomb cyclone dumps historic snow, leaving millions under winter warnings and thousands without electricity across the South.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 9:55pm

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A powerful "bomb cyclone" delivered blizzard-like conditions to the Carolinas on Saturday, dumping roughly a foot or more of snow across parts of the region and ushering in frigid temperatures across much of the East Coast. Charlotte, North Carolina, experienced one of its heaviest snowfalls in years, as approximately 240 million people remained under cold weather advisories and winter storm warnings.

Why it matters

The winter storm represents an unprecedented weather event for regions unaccustomed to significant snowfall, particularly in areas like Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The extreme weather has already contributed to over 100 deaths from Texas to New Jersey, roughly half occurring in Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana, with causes ranging from hypothermia to suspected carbon monoxide exposure. The prolonged power outages in Tennessee and Mississippi, now extending into a second week for some residents, highlight infrastructure vulnerabilities during extreme weather events.

The details

More than 197,000 customers remained without electricity, primarily in Mississippi and Tennessee, following a separate ice storm that struck last week. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol reported at least 750 traffic collisions throughout the day, though no fatalities were recorded. Temperatures were expected to dip into the teens and single digits late Saturday and overnight, with a low of minus 27 Fahrenheit recorded in West Virginia. Subfreezing weather and heavy snow were forecast to continue in the Carolinas, Virginia and northeast Georgia through Sunday, with snow possible from Maryland to Maine.

  • On Saturday, the Carolinas experienced one of their heaviest snowfalls in years.
  • Temperatures were expected to dip into the teens and single digits late Saturday and overnight, with a low of minus 27 Fahrenheit recorded in West Virginia.
  • Subfreezing weather and heavy snow were forecast to continue in the Carolinas, Virginia and northeast Georgia through Sunday, with snow possible from Maryland to Maine.

The players

Bob Oravec

Lead meteorologist for the National Weather Service (NWS) in College Park, Maryland.

Nashville Electric Service

The electric utility serving Nashville, Tennessee, estimated that while 90 percent of the approximately 48,000 affected customers would have power restored by Tuesday, some may wait until next weekend.

North Carolina State Highway Patrol

Reported at least 750 traffic collisions throughout the day, though no fatalities were recorded.

Alex Sosnowski

AccuWeather senior meteorologist.

Mississippi officials

Characterized their state's ice storm as the worst winter storm since 1994.

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What’s next

Weather experts continue monitoring the storm system's progression, with subfreezing conditions expected to persist through the weekend.

The takeaway

The blizzard conditions in the Carolinas highlight the region's vulnerability to extreme winter weather events, which have already proven deadly and disruptive, underscoring the need for improved infrastructure and emergency preparedness in areas unaccustomed to such severe storms.