Honestly, if you looked at the map a week ago, you wouldn't have guessed we’d be talking about snow in the deep South. But here we are. It is Saturday, January 17, 2026, and a massive Arctic blast is currently rewriting the weekend plans for millions of Americans.
The short answer to where is it snowing in the usa today? It’s a messy, fascinating split between the usual suspects in the Northeast and a very rare, shivering guest appearance in the Florida Panhandle and the Southeast.
If you're in Morristown, New Jersey, or anywhere near Litchfield County, Connecticut, you’re likely looking out at a white-out or at least a very thick blanket. But the real story today isn't just the depth of the powder—it’s the reach of the cold.
The Northeast Corridor: From Flurries to Four Inches
Right now, the National Weather Service has chunks of the Northeast under a Winter Weather Advisory. It's not a "shut down the city" kind of storm, but it's enough to make the Saturday morning coffee run feel like a polar expedition.
In Greater Morristown, New Jersey, the snow started dropping around 1:00 AM. Forecasters are calling for up to four inches by late this afternoon. It’s that heavy, wet stuff that sticks to the trees and makes for great photos but terrible driving.
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Further north, Connecticut is getting the brunt of this specific wave. Litchfield County is looking at a solid 2 to 4 inches, with some "lucky" spots potentially hitting the 6-inch mark. The rest of the state is seeing a more modest coating. Basically, if you are north of I-80 in the East, you’re in the thick of it.
Current Snowfall Hotspots (January 17, 2026)
- New Jersey: Morristown and surrounding Morris County are seeing steady accumulation through 4:00 PM.
- Connecticut: Litchfield County is under a Winter Weather Advisory until 7:00 PM tonight.
- Pennsylvania: The inland regions are seeing a "jet streak" system that’s dumping a quick coating before moving out.
- New York: Lake-effect snow is the name of the game here. Downwind of Lake Ontario, western New York is bracing for what could eventually be 1 to 2 feet of snow as the cold air cranks up the lake-effect machine.
The Arctic Blast Reaches the Florida Panhandle
This is the part that feels like a glitch in the simulation.
As of this morning, a potent Arctic air mass has plunged so far south that meteorologists are tracking a small but impactful snowstorm moving through the Southeast. We aren't just talking about North Carolina. We are talking about the Florida Panhandle.
AccuWeather and the NWS have confirmed that snow is expected to begin late tonight, Saturday, January 17, in parts of the Panhandle and southern Georgia. Now, will it stick? That’s the million-dollar question. The ground is still relatively warm, which usually turns snow into a slushy mess the second it hits the pavement. But the air is so cold—we’re talking 15 to 25 degrees below average—that even a "dusting" is causing a bit of a panic.
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In South Carolina, places like Columbia are sitting at a 40-50% chance of seeing an inch of snow by Sunday. It’s a "watch the webcams" kind of day for folks down there who rarely see the white stuff.
Why the Polar Vortex is Acting Up
You’ve probably heard the term "Polar Vortex" tossed around like a buzzword, but this year it’s actually the culprit. Scientists have been tracking a rare stratospheric warming event that happened earlier this month.
Basically, the high-altitude winds that usually keep the cold air locked up at the North Pole got "bumped." When those winds weaken, the cold air spills south like water over a broken dam. That is exactly what we are experiencing today.
This isn't just a one-day fluke. The disruption of the polar circulation means that even after today’s snow settles, the frigid temperatures are going to stick around through Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In fact, if you’re in the Midwest—places like Chicago or the Dakotas—you might not be seeing "new" snow today, but you’re dealing with wind gusts over 70 mph and temperatures in the single digits.
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The Mid-Atlantic Wait-and-See
For the folks in the Delmarva region (Delaware, Maryland, Virginia), today is a bit of a tease. You’ll see clouds and maybe some rain this afternoon, but the real transition happens overnight. As the temperature drops into the mid-30s, that rain is going to flip over to snow.
If you’re planning to travel on Sunday morning in the Mid-Atlantic, be careful. Even an inch of snow on top of a day of rain creates a sheet of ice that’s invisible until your tires lose grip.
Survival Tips for the 2026 Winter Surge
Since this storm is hitting areas that aren't always "snow-ready," here is the practical reality of what you need to do right now:
- Drip your pipes: In the South (Georgia, Alabama, Florida), these temperatures are low enough to burst pipes that aren't insulated. Let a faucet drip—it’s cheaper than a plumber.
- Watch the "Flash Freeze": In the Northeast, because the snow started after a period of milder air, the bottom layer is often ice. Don't trust a "clear" looking road.
- Check your flight status: Detroit Metro and major East Coast hubs are already seeing hundreds of delays. If you're flying today, check the app before you leave the house.
- Protect the pets: This Arctic air is no joke. If it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for them.
The 2025-2026 winter season is already pacing to be one of the snowiest on record for the Great Lakes and parts of the Northeast. Chicago has already seen its quickest start to winter since the late 70s.
So, if you're asking where is it snowing in the usa today, just look for the blue and purple blobs on the radar stretching from the Canadian border all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico. It’s a weird day for weather, but that’s January for you.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the NWS Interactive Snowfall Map for real-time accumulation updates in your specific zip code.
- If you are in the Southeast, bring in any sensitive plants or outdoor pets by sunset tonight as the freeze line moves south.
- Download a reliable radar app like RadarScope to track the rain-to-snow transition line if you are in the Mid-Atlantic corridor.