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In late January 2026, NOAA’s satellites monitored

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a massive winter storm that impacted the U.S.

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The storm blanketed more than half the nation in snow,

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and also brought ice and dangerous cold.

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The storm impacted more than 20 states from New Mexico to Maine,

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and dumped more than a foot of snow in some locations.

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Sleet and freezing rain caused severe icing

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in the Southeast and southern Appalachians.

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The winter storm caused hazardous travel conditions, widespread

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power outages, and major disruptions to air and ground transport.

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A surge of Arctic air followed the storm, and plunged parts of the

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central and eastern U.S. into extreme cold.

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The Arctic blast brought dangerous wind chills and dropped temperatures

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as much as 40 degrees Farenheit below average in some areas.

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NOAA satellites played a critical role 

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in forecasting and tracking the winter storm.

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JPSS satellites captured high-resolution imagery

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as the storm developed and progressed.

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The satellites also took temperature and moisture measurements

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throughout the atmosphere.

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Their data fed the prediction models that helped accurately forecast the storm.

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In addition to the storm itself, GOES satellites tracked the

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low pressure system off the West Coast that produced these winter
conditions across the U.S.

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Both GOES East and West monitored clouds

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atmospheric conditions in near real-time.

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This allowed forecasters to track rapidly-changing conditions, identify when

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the storm was becoming severe and

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predict where the storm would move next.

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When winter weather develops, NOAA satellites are on watch to provide

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critical data for accurate forecasts,

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timely warnings, and up-to-the-minute information on storm conditions.

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Earth From Orbit: NOAA Satellites Monitor Massive Winter Storm

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Additional Satellite Imagery Courtesy of CIMSS.

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NASA Meatball

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