Two major weather events to coincide across the nation this weekend

Two major weather stories are taking shape for the eastern half of the country.

To the north, and affecting all of Wisconsin, the coldest air of the season will be overspreading the state.

An Extreme Cold Watch has been issued for late Thursday, January 22, 2026, through Saturday morning.

According to the national weather service, dangerously cold wind chills as low as 40 degrees below zero will be possible in the Fond du Lac area. Actual air temperatures don’t look to get above 0 through the watch time frame.

The weather service says exposed skin could become frost bit within 10 minutes at these temperatures.

Also taking shape during the same period is a major winter storm that could cripple the southern states from Texas east to the east coast from New Jersey south to Georgia.

This storm will have the capability to dump a foot of snow over the northern part of this area, and freezing rain with up to a couple inches of ice accumulating over the southern portion of the area.

Included in this area of ice accumulation is the city of Atlanta, which could pose significant air travel delays and cancelations nationwide as the Atlanta International Airport is a major hub for several airline companies.

Grocery stores in the affected area are already reporting being wiped out of common food items like milk and bread.

An ice storm of this caliber has the potential to take down electrical wires causing power outages that could last days.