01/22/2026
🚨 WEDNESDAY NIGHT WINTER STORM UPDATE: THINGS ARE STILL CHANGING/FINE TUNING 🧊 ❄️
*TLDR: less snow, more ice, not good*
We are continuing to track a significant winter storm that will impact the Mid-South from Friday afternoon through Sunday, with Saturday shaping up to be the most dangerous day. This is still evolving, but confidence is increasing in a prolonged period of snow, ice, and bitter cold.
Let’s walk through what to expect.
TIMING | WHEN PRECIPITATION BEGINS FRIDAY
This system starts out light, then ramps up quickly overnight.
• 3 to 6 PM Friday
Eastern Arkansas will likely see the first flakes
• 6 to 9 PM Friday
Memphis, Shelby County, DeSoto County, and areas right along the Mississippi River
• 9 to 11 PM Friday
The remainder of the Mid-South
Early precipitation Friday afternoon and evening should be light, but conditions will deteriorate quickly later Friday night.
STORM INTENSITY | HOW THIS UNFOLDS
• Snow and freezing rain start light Friday
• Snow, sleet, and freezing rain become more persistent Friday night into Saturday morning
• Saturday is the main impact day, with the steadiest and heaviest snow and ice
• As colder air deepens, another round of mainly snow is expected on Sunday, including into Northern Mississippi
This is a long-duration event, not a quick hit.
STORM TRACK | WHY THIS IS STILL CHANGING
Recent model runs are pushing the snow and ice line farther north than earlier forecasts. Small shifts in the storm track will make a big difference in who sees more snow versus more ice, especially around the I-40 corridor and into North Mississippi. This trend is being watched closely.
SNOW & ICE POTENTIAL | WHAT WE CAN SAY NOW
It is still too early for exact totals at specific locations, but there is enough data to outline reasonable ranges.
Snow potential
• 3 to 6 inches north of I-40
• 2 to 4 inches for Memphis, Shelby County, DeSoto County, and areas along the TN-MS border
• Up to 2 inches for southern Mid-South counties
Ice potential
• Ice looks more likely in Northern Mississippi and parts of Eastern Arkansas
• 0.25 to 0.75 inches of ice possible in those higher-risk areas
• Memphis and the I-40 corridor may see both snow and ice, with 0.10 to 0.25 inches of ice possible, isolated higher amounts cannot be ruled out
THE BOTTOM LINE
This is shaping up to be a high-impact winter storm for the Mid-South.
• Light precipitation begins Friday, then worsens rapidly overnight
• Saturday remains the most hazardous day with the greatest risk for heavy snow, meaningful ice accumulation, and dangerous travel
• Snow and ice continue into Sunday with colder air reinforcing the system
• Dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills arrive Saturday night and last into Tuesday morning, with frostbite risk possible both day and night
This is not a one-day event. Travel issues, power concerns, and prolonged cold are all on the table.
JBs Trees and Things
218-252-3690
Call us now Shelby county.