Frigid conditions to persist in US following week: Report

WASHINGTON: Bitter cold continued to grip large parts of the United States, with frigid conditions expected to persist through the coming week. On Wednesday morning (local time), Washington DC witnessed a snow-covered White House as temperatures plunged sharply across the region.

The cold spell is forecast to continue throughout the week, with conditions potentially peaking on Friday. Weather models also suggest that another round of snowfall could arrive over the weekend. For several days, forecasts have consistently indicated the possibility of a storm developing along the Southeast or Mid-Atlantic coastline, with the potential to become significant.

At present, projections indicate that the storm system is more likely to track south and east of the Washington DC metropolitan area. The Eastern Shore is expected to have a higher likelihood of being impacted. However, even minor adjustments in the broader atmospheric pattern could change the storm’s path and bring snow closer to the capital region.

Parts of the Hudson River in New York have frozen amid a cold wave sweeping across large areas of the United States. pic.twitter.com/PMVo8DfRtP

— PUKMEDIA English (@pukmedia) January 29, 2026

Temperatures dropped sharply early Wednesday, with Washington DC recording a low of around 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Many surrounding areas experienced even colder conditions, with readings falling into the single digits and, in some locations, dipping below zero.

A potent winter storm left a wide band of snow stretching from the US Southwest to New England in late January 2026. The heavy snow, along with bitterly cold temperatures, sleet, and ice, created treacherous travel conditions, toppled power lines, and caused widespread school closures, NASA reported, citing news reports.

On the afternoon of January 26, the VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) on the Suomi NPP satellite observed new snow covering a large swath of the country. Preliminary National Weather Service data indicate snow accumulations of up to 12 inches (30 centimetres) in parts of Oklahoma between the mornings of January 23 and January 26, with higher accumulation across the Midwest and in New England. Totals of around 20 inches were reported in several Northeast states, as per NASA.

Some locations were digging out from record daily accumulations, including 5.1 inches in St Louis, Missouri, on January 24, and 11.2 inches in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on January 25. Several inches of snow and sleet also fell in parts of North Texas, a rare occurrence for the area. With temperatures remaining below freezing in many places, the snow and ice may stick around, as per NASA. (ANI)