Impending Winter Storm: Reconsider non-critical road travel across much of the U.S.

A large, likely severe winter storm is set to beat up on much of the country starting Friday, January 23rd 2026. If you’ve got road travel plans, it might be time to rethink them.

This storm is gearing up to take its own road-trip across a huge chunk of the U.S. this weekend, bringing heavy snow, ice, sleet, and seriously cold temps along for the ride. The storm looks ready to involve itself with of 33 U.S. states, from Arizona and Texas, through the Midwest, across the South, and all the way through New England.

Hazardous driving conditions are expected to develop as early as morning Friday and continue through Monday. Plan to avoid the following non-exhaustive list of major road corridors, and pretty much everything around and in between them too.

• I-10 east of Van Horn, TX
• I-20 east of Kent, TX
• I-30 in its entirety
• I-40 from the NM/AZ border east
• I-70 from Salina, KS east
• I-80 from Chicago, IL east
• I-35 from San Antonio to Kansas City
• I-55 through Mississippi and Tennessee
• I-65 through Tennessee and the Ohio Valley
• I-81 in its entirety
• I-95 from Florence, SC east

It’s not just road travel that will be impacted. Flights are being canceled and delayed across the country as well.

For help tracking the storm, its evolution, and its real-time road impacts, monitor the following resources:

• https://www.weather.gov/
• https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo/
• https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/wwd/winter_wx.shtml

If you planned your trip with Roadtrippers and decide to postpone, check out our guide to updating your trip dates. If you decide to reroute , check out our guide to customizing your route.

Of course, if you’re looking to do some winter travel when the roads are safe, we’ve got you covered:

Related Winter Roadtrip Ideas

Stay safe out there friends!