Crews spread salt on roads and people stock up on batteries as a winter
storm threatens the US
[January 22, 2026]
By EMILIE MEGNIEN and SEAN MURPHY
ATLANTA (AP) — Bags of ice-thwarting salt aren’t usually a hot item at
Bates Ace Hardware in Atlanta, but store manager Lewis Pane sold all 275
he had in stock in one morning as residents braced for a major storm to
deliver heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain on a broad section of the
U.S. in coming days.
Payne said he had 30 online orders for “ice melt” before 8 a.m. People
sprinkle the salts on the ground before a storm to disrupt the formation
of ice.
“It’s impossible to get right now,” Payne said. “We have had to make
special trips to our warehouse to pick up extra items because people
need them.”
The storm was expected to hit starting Friday, stretching from New
Mexico to New England and across the Deep South. The damage could rival
that of a major hurricane.
Meteorologists say ice may linger on roads and sidewalks because
temperatures will be slow to warm in many areas. Ice could also weigh
down trees and power lines, triggering widespread outages.
The city of Carmel, Indiana, canceled its Winter Games out of fear
residents could get frostbite and hypothermia competing in ice trike
relay and “human curling” in which people slide down a skating rink on
inner tubes.
College sports teams moved up or postponed games, and the Texas Rangers
canceled their annual Fan Fest event.
The coldest windchills may fall below -50 F (-46 C) across the Northern
Plains with subzero wind chills reaching as far southeast as the
Mid-Atlantic states and Southern Plains, the National Weather Service
said.
At the Atlanta hardware store, Wendy Chambers stopped by to pick up
batteries and flashlights in case there is a power outage.
“We’re gonna be prepared, aren’t we? We’re going to be able to read, do
things, play games,” she said before heading to church choir with her
granddaughter.
Oklahoma truck driver Charles Daniel planned to load up as much freight
as possible before the storm arrives in his area on Friday.
“You’ve got to be very weather aware, and real smart about what you’re
doing,” said Daniel, who delivers goods across western Oklahoma in an
18-wheel tractor-trailer.
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A shopper buys groceries Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, in Nashville,
Tenn., ahead of a winter storm expected to hit the state over the
weekend. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
“You can’t back down into decline docks, you can’t go into
neighborhoods or parking lots," Daniel said. "I’m 40,000 pounds
unloaded. One mistake can literally kill somebody, so you have to
use your head.”
He said truck drivers need to have a change of clothes, plenty of
water and a couple of jackets on hand in case they get stuck because
it would be a while before a tow truck could help them.
In Arkansas, the Department of Transportation started treating some
roads with brine on Tuesday. The salt helps prevent ice from
forming. Over 10 inches of snow were expected in parts of the state.
Rain was complicating efforts to pretreat roads with salt in Alabama
on Wednesday because precipitation washes away the brine. The
Alabama Department of Transportation encouraged people to stay off
the roads if ice forms.
“Any amount of ice is pretty dangerous, and certainly a quarter-inch
could be very hazardous,” said Seth Burkett, a department
spokesperson.
Snow and icy conditions were forecast for Maryland beginning
Saturday afternoon or evening, with peak effects Saturday night and
into Sunday morning. The governor declared a state of preparedness
to help authorities respond quickly.
Governors in North Carolina and South Carolina declared states of
emergency, making it easier for state and local agencies to
coordinate and get help from groups like the National Guard.
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