Icy Highways Strand Drivers in Mississippi as Frigid Temps Persist Across US

Emergency crews work to clear stranded vehicles as the eastern US endures what could become its longest freeze in decades.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 11:55am

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Emergency crews in Mississippi worked overnight and into Wednesday morning to clear stranded vehicles on icy interstate highways as the eastern US continued to grapple with frigid weather days after a weekend storm. Over 380,000 homes and businesses, mostly in Mississippi and Tennessee, remained without power, and at least 50 people had been reported dead in states affected by the dangerous cold.

Why it matters

The extended period of freezing temperatures across much of the eastern US has led to dangerous driving conditions, widespread power outages, and multiple fatalities, underscoring the severe impact of extreme winter weather on infrastructure, public safety, and human life.

The details

Tow trucks and drones were dispatched to help drivers stuck in snarled traffic on Interstate 55 in northern Mississippi and other major highways. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves urged people to stay off the roads as crews continued working to clear the stranded vehicles. The frigid weather has also led to over 380,000 power outages, mostly in Mississippi and Tennessee, and at least 50 reported deaths across affected states, including three young brothers who perished after falling through the frozen surface of a pond in Texas.

  • On January 28, 2026, emergency crews worked overnight and into Wednesday morning to clear stranded vehicles on icy highways in Mississippi.
  • The weekend storm that blasted the Northeast and parts of the South with snow and ice occurred just days prior to the current freezing conditions.

The players

Tate Reeves

The governor of Mississippi who urged people to stay off the roads as crews worked to clear stranded vehicles.

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What they’re saying

“And pray for the first responders that are doing what Mississippians do — going above and beyond for their fellow man.”

— Tate Reeves, Governor of Mississippi

What’s next

Forecasters predict even colder weather for much of the US this weekend, with a new blast of arctic air expected Friday and Saturday and the possibility of heavy snow in the Carolinas and parts of Virginia.

The takeaway

The prolonged freeze across the eastern US has led to dangerous driving conditions, widespread power outages, and multiple fatalities, underscoring the severe impact of extreme winter weather and the need for continued preparedness and response efforts to protect public safety.