Heavy Rain and Snow Expected in the United States and Canada

       Affected by the eastward movement of a cold vortex (Figure 1), it is expected that from January 24 to 26, 2026, parts of the central and eastern United States, as well as southeastern Canada, will experience moderate to heavy snow, with some areas facing severe to very severe snowstorms, and localized extreme blizzards. The cumulative snowfall during this period is anticipated to be between 15 and 25 millimeters, with localized areas exceeding 35 millimeters. Additionally, parts of the southeastern United States will see moderate to heavy rain, with isolated areas experiencing torrential downpours (Figure 2). These regions will also undergo temperature drops of 8 to 12 degrees Celsius, with localized areas exceeding 14 degrees Celsius (Figure 3). Precautions are advised to mitigate the adverse impacts of the intense rain and snow on power infrastructure, transportation, and other industries.

Figure 1 Forecast of 500 hPa Geopotential Height (units: dagpm) and 850 hPa Wind Field at 20:00 (Beijing Time) on January 23, 2026

Figure 2 Accumulated Precipitation from 08:00 on January 24 to 08:00 on January 27, 2026 (Beijing Time) (Unit: mm)

Figure 3 Forecast of 24-hour Temperature Change at 2 meters above ground level at 20:00 (Beijing Time) on January 24, 2026 (Unit: °C)

          Author: Hu Yingying                                 Reviewer: Zhang Bo

English reviewer:Wang Yi                                                                       Issue approver:Dai Kan