January 25th, 2026

School or Organization	Cancellation or Delay  ( If blank no cancellation or delay reported)
911th Airlift Wing	Closed Monday
Aliquippa City Admin. Offices	Closed Monday
Aliquippa Area School District	Closed Monday (Changed from remote learning day)
Ambridge Area School District	Virtual Learning Day- Monday 01/26/326
Avonworth School District	Remote Instruction 01/26/26
Baden Academy Charter	Closed Monday- 01/26/26
Beaver Area School District	Closed Monday- All activities Cancelled
Beaver County Court House	Closed-Monday- 1/26/26
Beaver County Head Start	Monday Morning: Closed
Beaver County Rehabilitation Center	Closed for Business on Monday- 1/26/26
Big Beaver Falls Area School District	Closed Monday – 01/26/26- Remote Learning Day
Beaver County CTC	Closed- Flexible Instruction- 01/26/26
Beaver County Transit Authority	Closed-Monday- 1/26/26
Beaver Valley Montessori School	Closed-Monday- 1/26/26
Blackhawk Area School District	Closed- 1/26/26 – Remote Instruction; Evening Activities Canceled
Blackhawk Meals on Wheels	Closed-Monday- 1/26/26
Butler County Community College (All Locations, Including Cranberry Township)	Closed Monday – 01/26/26
Carlow University	Remote Learning – 01/26/26
CCBC	Closed Monday – 01/26/26
CCBC Aviation Sciences Center	Closed Monday – 01/26/26
Center At The Mall (Senior Center)	Open at noon- Monday- 1/26/26
Central Valley School District	Closed Monday – 01/26/26; all activities cancelled . Tuesday 01/27/26 Flexible Instruction Day
Chippewa Alliance Church	Morning Services Cancelled Sunday- 1/25/26 online at 11AM
Christ Anglican Church – New Brighton	Closed Sunday 01/25/26
Church In the Round – Aliquippa	Closed Sunday 01/25/26
Commonwealth Of Pa/ Offices Under   the Governor	Closed on Monday
Community Bible Church-Racoon Twp.	Online Service only Sunday- 1/25/26
Cornell School District	Remote Instruction- 01/26/26 ; No evening activities or athletics
Cranberry Community United Presbyterian Church (Cranberry Township)	Closed Sunday Morning/ All Activities Cancelled-1/25/26
Education Center at Watson (Sewickley)
Ellwood City Area School District
Families Matter Food Pantry	Closed Monday 01/26/26
First Christian Church-Beaver	Closed Sunday- 1/25/26
First Presbyterian Church-Beaver	Closed Sunday- 1/25/26, Online posted
First United Methodist Church – Ellwood City	Closed Sunday – 01/25/26
Footprints in the Sand	Closed Monday – 01/26/26
Freedom Area School District	Flexible Instruction Day – 01/26/26; All activities are cancelled
Greater Faith Family Worship	Closed Sunday- 1/25/26
Hap Community Outings	Closed Monday- 1/26/26
Harmony-Zelie Global Methodist Church	Closed-Sunday 1/25/26
Head Start of Beaver County – Aliquippa	Monday Morning: Closed
Head Start of Beaver County -Ambridge	Monday Morning: Closed
Head Start of Beaver County – Beaver Falls	Monday Morning: Closed
Head Start of Beaver County – Beaver Falls 7th Ave.	Monday Morning: Closed
Head Start of Beaver County – Beaver Falls 6th Ave.	Monday Morning: Closed
Head Start of Beaver County – Central	Monday Morning: Closed
Head Start of Beaver County – Blackhawk	Monday Morning: Closed
Head Start of Beaver County – CCBC	Monday Morning: Closed
Head Start/ Early Head Start of Beaver County	Monday Morning: Closed
Head Start of Beaver County – Rochester	Monday Morning: Closed
Head Start of Beaver County – Southside	Monday Morning: Closed
Head Start of Beaver County – New Brighton Middle School	Monday Morning: Closed
Head Start of Beaver County – New Brighton High School	Monday Morning: Closed
Head Start of Beaver County – Riverside	Monday Morning: Closed
Hope Lutheran Church- Cranberry	No Sunday Service or Activities-1/25/26
Hope Academy- Conway
Hopewell School District	Remote Learning Monday; all school activities cancelled.
Kiddie Korner in Beaver	Closed Monday – 1/26/26
Lawrence County Government Center	Closed Monday – 1/26/26
Life Family Matters Church – New Brighton and   Center Twp.	Online Service Only- 1/26/26
Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School	Closed Monday 01/26/26 – Flexible Instruction Day
Living Water Family Church	Closed Sunday – 01/25/26-All activities cancelled
Living Water Family Church	Closed Sunday – 01/25/26-All activities cancelled
Mary Queen of Saints- Monaca CCD	Cancelled – 01/25/26
Mc Guire Memorial School	Closed Monday-Flexible Instruction Day
Midland Borough school District	Closed Monday – 1/26/26
Montour Area School District	Closed Monday 01/26/26 – Flexible Instruction Day; No Transportation
Moon Area School District	Remote Instruction 01/26/26
New Bethlehem Presbyterian Church	Sunday School Cancelled-Service online only- 1/25/26
New Brighton Area School District	Closed Monday- 1/26/26 Virtual Learning Day
New Horizons (Beaver and North in New Castle)	Closed Monday 01/26/26
North Branch Presbyterian Church	Closed Sunday – 1/25/26
North Catholic School District	Monday Morning: Closed-Flexible Instruction Day
Our Lady of Fatima/ Hopewell	Closed Monday-Flexible Instruction Day
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School (Coraopolis)	Monday Morning: Closed-Flexible Instruction Day
Our Lady of the Valley (Youth Group)	Cancelled
Our Lady of the Valley (CCD)	Cancelled
Phoenix Drop-In Center (Rochester)	Closed Monday 01/26/26
Penn State Beaver (Monaca)	Closed Sunday and Monday 1/25 & 1/26/2026
Provident Charter School West (Baden)	Monday Morning: Closed-Flexible Instruction Day
Quaker Valley School District	Closed Monday- 01/26/26
Riverside Beaver County Area School District	Closed Monday – Flexible Instruction Day
Road to Emmaus Baptist Church	Closed -No Zoom 01/25/26
Rochester Area School District	Flexible Instruction Day- 01/26/26
Robert Morris University (Moon Township)	Closed Monday 01/26/26
Second Baptist Church- Beaver Falls	Morning Services Cancelled 01/25/26
Seneca Valley Area School District	Closed Monday- 01/26/26
Sewickley Academy	Closed Monday- 01/26/26
Slippery Rock Area School District	Monday Morning: Closed
St. Andrews Day School (Moon Township)	Closed Monday- 01/26/26
St. James-Sewickley	Closed Monday-Flexible Instruction Day
St. Monica Catholic Academy	Closed Monday – Flexible Instruction Day
St. Killian’s Catholic School (Cranberry)	Monday Morning: Closed-Flexible Instruction Day
St. Peter & Paul School/Beaver	Closed Monday
St. Stephens Lutheran Academy/Zelienople	Monday Morning: Closed
South Side Area School District	Closed Monday 01/26/26
Sto Rox	Closed Monday
The Lindsay Theater	Closed Sunday- 01/25/26
Twelve Loafs Soup Kitchen	Closed Monday
Unionville Church	Closed 1/25/26 – All in House Services Cancelled
Vanport Presbyterian Church	Closed Sunday 01/25/26
Western Beaver Area School District	Monday Morning: Closed/All Activities Cancelled
West Allegheny School District	Monday : Remote Learning Day
Word Of Life Church – Monaca.	Closed Sunday 01/25/26

(File Photo)

Harrisburg – In advance of the impending winter storm, and to ensure the safety of customers and employees, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) announced that all Fine Wine & Good Spirits locations across the commonwealth will be closed on Sunday, Jan. 25.

Stores remain open today, and store hours and locations can be found at FWGS.com.

The PLCB regulates the distribution of beverage alcohol in Pennsylvania, operates Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores statewide, and licenses more than 20,000 alcohol producers, retailers, and handlers. The PLCB also works to reduce and prevent dangerous and underage drinking through partnerships with schools, community groups, and licensees. For more information about the PLCB, visit pa.gov/lcb.

Fine Wine & Good Spirits is Pennsylvania’s go-to destination for wine, spirits, and ready-to-drink cocktails, as well as in-store tastings and events. With more than 560 stores, 13 licensee service centers and a robust online shopping experience at FWGS.com, Fine Wine & Good Spirits offers a wide selection of products for customers to discover new favorites, find trusted classics, and explore exclusive, limited-release selections. Fine Wine & Good Spirits and the PLCB contribute to the state’s economy by returning taxes and profits – nearly $23.5 billion since the agency’s inception – to Pennsylvania’s General Fund, financing Pennsylvania’s schools, health and human services programs, law enforcement, and public safety and community initiatives. The PLCB also provides financial support for the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, other state agencies, and local municipalities across the state.

Every purchase made at a Fine Wine & Good Spirits store or at FWGS.com helps strengthen Pennsylvania, supporting nearly 6,000 employees and more than 2,500 communities across the commonwealth.

 

January 24th, 2026

School or Organization	Cancellation or Delay  ( If blank no cancellation or delay reported)
Adelphoi Education/Beaver (Rochester)
Aliquippa Area School District
Ambridge Area School District
Avonworth School District
Baden Academy Charter
Beaver Area School District
Beaver County Court House	Closed-Monday- 1/26/26
Beaver County Head Start
Beaver County Rehabilitation Center
Big Beaver Falls Area School District
Beaver County CTC
Beaver County Transit Authority
Beaver Valley Montessori School
Blackhawk Area School District
Blackhawk Meals on Wheels
Butler County Community College (All Locations, Including Cranberry Township)
CCBC
CCBC Aviation Sciences Center
Center At The Mall (Senior Center)	Open at noon- Monday- 1/26/26
Central Valley School District
Community Bible Church-Racoon Twp.	Online Service only Sunday- 1/25/26
Cornell School District
Cranberry Community United Presbyterian Church (Cranberry Township)	Closed Sunday Morning/ All Activities Cancelled-1/25/26
Education Center at Watson (Sewickley)
Ellwood City Area School District
Families Matter Food Pantry
Freedom Area School District
Harmony-Zelie Global Methodist Church	Closed-Sunday 1/25/26
Head Start of Beaver County – Aliquippa
Head Start of Beaver County -Ambridge
Head Start of Beaver County – Beaver Falls
Head Start of Beaver County – Beaver Falls 7th Ave.
Head Start of Beaver County – Beaver Falls 6th Ave.
Head Start of Beaver County – Central
Head Start of Beaver County – Blackhawk
Head Start of Beaver County – CCBC
Head Start/ Early Head Start of Beaver County
Head Start of Beaver County – Rochester
Head Start of Beaver County – Southside
Head Start of Beaver County – New Brighton Middle School
Head Start of Beaver County – New Brighton High School
Head Start of Beaver County – Riverside
Hope Lutheran Church- Cranberry	No Sunday Service or Activities-1/25/26
Hope Academy- Conway
Hopewell School District
Life Family Pre-School
Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School
Living Water Family Church	Closed Sunday – 01/25/26-All activities cancelled
Mc Guire Memorial EOC	Closed Monday – 01/26/26
Mc Guire Memorial School
Midland Borough school District
Montour Area School District
Moon Area School District
Mother’s Morning Out/Noah’s Ark Preschool/Sewickley
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (Pre-school (Moon Twp.)
New Brighton Area School District
New Castle Area School District
New Horizons (Beaver and North in New Castle)
North Branch Presbyterian Church	Closed Sunday – 1/25/26
North Catholic School District
Our Lady of Fatima/ Hopewell
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School (Coraopolis)
Phoenix Drop-In Center (Rochester)	Closed Monday 01/26/26
Penn State Beaver (Monaca)
Provident Charter School West (Baden)
Quaker Valley School District
Riverside Beaver County Area School District
Rochester Area School District
Robert Morris University (Moon Township)
Seneca Valley Area School District
Sewickley Academy
Slippery Rock Area School District
St. Andrews Day School (Moon Township)
St. James-Sewickley
St. Monica Catholic Academy
St. Killian’s Catholic School (Cranberry)
St. Peter & Paul School/Beaver
St. Stephens Lutheran Academy/Zelienople
South Side Area School District
Sto Rox
The Prevention Network and Class Academy (Beaver County)
Western Beaver Area School District
West Allegheny School District

(Photo of Pa State Rep Josh Kail )

(BEAVER, Pa.) State Rep. Josh Kail today announced he would seek another term
representing the 15 th State House District, which comprises portions of Beaver and
Washington counties.
Kail, 39, emerged as a leader in the general assembly on issues that have the most impact on his district.
He has pledged to continue a push to hold down taxes while promoting western
Pennsylvania’s energy industry, which has ushered in an era of new economic growth in both his district and the surrounding counties.
“We have so many opportunities to excel in Western Pennsylvania but mismanagement, leftist policies and runaway spending are threatening that progress,” Kail said. He has pledged to focus on reduced government interference in both business and the private lives of citizens.
“My goal is to give power back to people and families to chart their own course. I’m
running again to continue the fight on behalf of the people of Beaver and Washington
counties,” he said. A leader in the General Assembly on issues ranging from energy and growth policy to matters relating to education and law and order, Kail will go to Harrisburg to shake up the status quo. He has consistently advocated for tax cuts, less government, fiscal sanity, protecting the unborn, and defending Second Amendment rights. “Democrats and Governor Shapiro want to bankrupt the commonwealth with dangerous energy policy and government over spending. It’s time now in Pennsylvania to leverage our resources to the max so we can enjoy affordable energy and an increase in jobs,” Kail said. “If democrats get their way, we will continue to see massive increases in costs and higher taxes. We have too much on the line not to stand up to their reckless policies.”
An attorney and a father of 8, Kail has also been a stanch supporter of pro-family
legislation, supporting legislation to keep biological men out of women’s sports, and
pushing back on the political left’s attempts to indoctrinate children. “We cannot allow crazy ideological policies to infiltrate our schools. Local teachers and administrators are focused on the critical building blocks of education: math, science,
reading and writing,” Kail said. “We need to make sure they have the tools necessary to succeed in teaching our children and keep the nonsense out of the classroom.”
Currently serving House District 15, Kail represents parts of Beaver and Washington
counties. He is a small business owner who resides in Brighton Township with his wife,
Abby, and their eight children.

 

(File Photo taken by Matt Drzik)

PennDOT, PA Turnpike Restrict All Commercial Vehicles on PA Interstates, Other High Traffic Roadways Ahead of This Weekend’s Winter Storm

Drivers urged to watch weather forecasts, avoid unnecessary travel.

Go to 511PA.com or the 511PA smartphone app for the most up-to-date information on weather impacts and vehicle restrictions.

Harrisburg, PA – Ahead of heavy snow expected across Pennsylvania starting Saturday night, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PA Turnpike) are planning to implement vehicle restrictions across Pennsylvania’s Interstate network. The agencies are also advising drivers to watch weather forecasts, avoid unnecessary travel if possible and to exercise caution when driving.

Heavy snow is expected across the Commonwealth starting Saturday night, with snowfall rates of 1” to 2” per hour by the afternoon on Sunday. Temperatures will be very cold and are expected to remain below freezing across the state throughout next week.

Restrictions are planned for certain vehicles during the storm, and will be communicated via variable message boards, the 511PA traveler information website and smartphone apps. Drivers can also sign up for personalized alerts on the website. Restrictions will be lifted as quickly as possible when conditions permit. Restrictions can be changed based on conditions on the roadways, and reports from first responders, law enforcement and PennDOT personnel.

The following vehicle restrictions are planned to go into effect at 12:01 AM on Sunday, January 25 in accordance with Tier 4 of the commonwealth’s weather event vehicle restriction plan.

• ALL Pennsylvania interstates including:
  • PA Turnpike I-76
  • PA Turnpike I-70
  • All PA Turnpike extensions.
• U.S. 15 from I-180 to the New York border.
• U.S. 22 from Route 66 to I-99.
• U.S. 22 from I-78 to the New Jersey border.
• U.S. 219 from U.S. 30 to U.S. 22.
• U.S. 220 from I-80 to I-180.
• U.S. 322 from Interstate 99 to I-81.
• Route 28 from I-279 to U.S. 422.
• The entire length of Route 33.

On roadways with Tier 4 restrictions in place, no commercial vehicles are permitted. Additionally, all school buses, commercial buses, motor coaches, motorcycles, RVs/motorhomes and passenger vehicles (cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, etc.) towing trailers are not permitted on affected roadways while restrictions are in place.

Speed limits will be restricted to 45 mph on these roadways for all vehicles while the vehicle restrictions are in place, and commercial vehicles not affected by the restrictions must move to the right lane. Additional speed restrictions on other interstates could be added depending on changing conditions.

While avoiding or delaying unnecessary travel during winter storms is the safest choice, PennDOT offers this advice if drivers must travel and encounter snow squalls or blowing or drifting snow:

• Slow down gradually and drive at a speed that suits conditions.
• Turn on your headlights. If caught in a snow squall, turn on your hazard lights.
• Stay in your lane and increase your following distance.
• Stay alert, keep looking as far ahead as possible and be patient.
• Do not drive distracted; your full attention is required.
• Use your defroster and wipers.
• Keep windows and mirrors free of snow and ice.
• During whiteouts, come to a complete stop only when you can safely pull off the roadway.
• Do not stop in the flow of traffic since this could cause a chain-reaction collision.
• Do not pass a vehicle moving slowly or speed up to get away from a vehicle that is following too closely.
• Always buckle up and never drive impaired.
• Have an emergency kit handy. Here are some suggestions of what you could include in your emergency kit.

Last winter in Pennsylvania, preliminary data shows that there were 8,329 crashes, 29 fatalities, and 2,959 injuries on snowy, slushy or ice-covered roadways. Eleven of the people who died weren’t wearing a seat belt, and 17 of the fatalities were in crashes where a driver was going too fast for conditions and drove out of their lane.

For more information on safe winter travel, an emergency kit checklist and information on PennDOT’s winter operations including a video, visit www.PennDOT.pa.gov/winter. Additional winter driving and other highway safety information is available at www.PennDOT.pa.gov/safety.

Drivers can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,200 traffic cameras.

For more information on the PA Turnpike’s winter operations, visit www.paturnpike.com/news/pa-turnpike-blog. To report an incident or other emergency on the PA Turnpike, dial *11 via mobile phone. To learn more about PA Turnpike conditions, use 511PA or follow the PA Turnpike on X, Facebook and Instagram.

511PA is also available through a free smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following local alerts on X.

Subscribe to statewide PennDOT news and traffic alerts or subscribe to news in a specific county or region. Find PennDOT news on X, Facebook, and Instagram. The PA Turnpike will provide updates on their social channels, on their roadway and at all service plazas.

(File photo of Chippewa location taken by Jimmy Miller)

Centers will be closed January 26 and January 27. 

Customers with road tests will be contacted to reschedule.

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced that all driver license and photo centers, including its full-service center in Harrisburg, will be closed Monday, January 26, 2026, through Tuesday, January 27, 2026, due to the predicted snow event this weekend.

Customers who have road tests scheduled will be contacted by PennDOT staff to reschedule their road tests, or they may go online to reschedule their road test.

Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services, including all forms, publications, and driver training manuals, online through PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website.

Driver and vehicle online services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and include driver’s license, photo ID and vehicle registration renewals; driver-history services; changes of address; driver license and vehicle registration restoration letters; ability to pay driver license or vehicle insurance restoration fee; driver license and photo ID duplicates; REAL ID pre-verification; and driver exam scheduling. There are no additional fees for using online services.

Planning to fly domestically? You now need a REAL ID driver’s license or ID card or other acceptable form of ID – like a passport – to board a domestic flight. If you’re not sure whether a REAL ID is right for you, our REAL ID online wizard may help with your decision. Visit pa.gov/REALID today for information on how you can get a REAL ID.

Drivers can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,200 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.

Follow PennDOT on X and like the department on Facebook and Instagram.

File Photo

(Beaver, Pa.) The Beaver County Commissioners on Friday announced that due to the winter storm expected this weekend, the Beaver County Courthouse and all county owned facilities will be closed on Monday, January 26, 2026.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: This photo shows various weather apps arranged on a smartphone in Glenside, Pa., Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

(AP) Smartphone weather apps that summarize their forecasts with eye-popping numbers and bright icons may be handy during mild weather, but meteorologists say it’s better to listen to human expertise during multi-faceted, dangerous winter storms like the one blowing through the U.S.

The multistate storm’s combination of heavy snow, treacherous ice and subzero temperatures shows why it’s best to seek out forecasters who can explain its nuances via local TV or radio newscasts, online livestreams or detailed websites, said meteorologists interviewed by The Associated Press. The data is changing rapidly before and during the storm, and the distance of a few miles can mean the difference between snow, sleet or dangerous freezing rain.

“Weather apps are really bad at storms that have multiple types of precipitation and it really makes messaging hard,” said University of Georgia meteorology professor Marshall Shepherd, a past president of the American Meteorological Society. “Apps don’t understand the details of why snow, sleet or freezing rain happens.”

University of Oklahoma meteorology professor Jason Furtado and other experts said humans are important in these cases, especially those with local expertise.

“For extreme weather events, it is especially important to know there are human forecasters interpreting the data and making the best localized forecasts for your area,” Furtado said. “Unfortunately, many of the weather forecast apps use AI methods to either make the forecast or ‘interpolate’ from larger grids to your hometown, introducing the potential for significant errors.”

But some apps can be useful, especially those that pair National Weather Service data with meteorologists’ expertise, forecasters said. And they are definitely getting used right about now.

The Weather Channel app, which is seeing booming traffic this week, uses numerous models, data sources, weather observers and staff, said James Belanger, vice president of its parent company, which also owns the Weather Channel and weather.com. That level of proficiency matters, he said.

“It’s an all-hands-on-deck kind of approach that we take,” Belanger said, adding that “not all weather apps are created equal.”

What apps can and can’t do

Apps get much of their information from the National Weather Service and some companies augment it with proprietary information and the well-regarded European forecast models. Many offer forecasts by ZIP code or geographic areas far from weather stations by using software that focuses broader regional forecasts to where the phone is located.

While there are good apps, especially those displaying National Weather Service warnings and information, many “oversimplify uncertainty and present highly precise-looking numbers that imply more confidence than actually exists,” said Northern Illinois University meteorology professor Victor Gensini. This type of storm is where apps are weakest because they don’t get nuances, he said.

Weather apps are good for forecasting nice warm summer days, but not days like much of the country is facing now, said Steven DiMartino of NY NJ PA Weather. The paid online subscription service touts its human expertise with the slogan “Meteorology Not Modelology.”

“The problem with the weather app is that it just provides data, but not explanation,” DiMartino said. “Anyone can look at data, but you need a meteorologist, you need that human touch to look at it and say, ‘Hmm, that looks like an error; we’re gonna tweak this.’”

Seeking quality sources of data

Cory Mottice, a National Weather Service meteorologist since 2014, developed the app EverythingWeather, which uses weather service data, as an easy place for the public to find the latest weather forecasts for their area without navigating the agency’s website. He said it’s “just for fun” and not affiliated with the weather service.

The strength of his app, he said, is that the information comes from professional meteorologists at the more than 125 weather service offices. Many apps just use raw computer modeling data – which aren’t always reliable in extreme events — with no human oversight, “which can really lead to some very misleading numbers or graphics depending on what you’re at,” he said.

With his approach, “you have actual meteorologists that are experts in their field at different places all over the country for that specific area, looking at the data, adjusting it, making the forecast as needed,” Mottice said.

Mixing decades of experience, 100 meteorologists and AI

The popular Weather Channel app uses information from many sources, including the weather service and more than 100 weather models, including those from the U.S. and Europe and their own distinct model. They augment it with input from over 100,000 citizens to help forecast weather events, said The Weather Company’s Belanger. And it’s all synthesized by artificial intelligence to come up with a forecast, he said.

That’s more accurate than relying on a single model or provider, he said, because AI is able to learn which models are the most accurate in different conditions to help “create that optimal forecast.”

Even so, humans, including a team of more than 100 meteorologists, always have the final say about what goes on the app, Belanger said.

“One of the things that has been a lesson and a principle that we’ve adopted is that it’s the combination of advancements in technology with the human oversight,” that allows the company to provide the best forecasts — especially in situations like the current winter storm, Belanger said.

Be careful with social media

Forecasters also warn against another quick fix for weather information: social media, where hype, misinformation and short takes can spread quickly.

While social media can help amplify official sources like the weather service, “it’s also where misinformation spreads fastest,” Gensini wrote in an email.

“Weather is complex, and social media tends to reward confidence and drama, not nuance,” Gensini said. “That mismatch is a real challenge during major events like this.”

Kim Klockow McClain, an extreme weather social scientist at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, said people are “getting misled by hyped forecasts.”

“When people are continually exposed to only worst-case forecasts, research suggests they will lose trust over time,” she said.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: People walk on an ice covered beach along the shore of Lake Michigan, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)

DALLAS (AP) — It was too cold for school in Chicago and other Midwestern cities Friday as a huge, dayslong winter storm began to crank up that could bring snow, sleet, ice and bone-chilling temperatures as well as extensive power outages to about half the U.S. population from Texas to New England.

Forecasters warned that the damage, especially in areas pounded by ice, could rival a hurricane. At least 177 million people were under watches or warnings for ice and snow and more than 200 million were under cold weather advisories or warnings. In many places they overlapped. Utility companies braced for power outages because ice-coated trees and power lines can keep falling long after a storm has passed.

Maricela Resendiz picked up chicken, eggs and pizzas at a Dallas store to get her, her 5-year-old son and her boyfriend through the weekend.

“It’s going to be a big storm,” she said, adding her weekend plans involved “staying in, just being out of the way.”

Ice, snow and sleet could begin falling later Friday in Texas and Oklahoma. The storm was expected to slide into the South with freezing rain and sleet. Then it will move into the Northeast, dumping about a foot (30 centimeters) of snow from Washington, D.C., through New York and Boston, the National Weather Service predicted.

Arctic air is the first piece to fall in place

Arctic air that spilled down from Canada prompted Chicago Public Schools and others in the Midwest to cancel classes Friday. With wind chills predicted to be as low as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 40 Celsius) frostbite could set in within 10 minutes, making it too dangerous to walk to school or wait for the bus.

In Bismarck, North Dakota, where the wind chill was minus 41 Fahrenheit (minus 41 Celsius) on Friday morning, Colin Cross cleaned out an empty unit for the apartment complex where he works.

“I’ve been here a while and my brain stopped working,” said Cross, bundled up in long johns, two long-sleeved shirts, a jacket, hat, hood, gloves and boots.

In Oklahoma, Department of Transportation workers pretreated roads with salt brine. The Highway Patrol canceled days off for troopers and planned to work with the National Guard to help stranded drivers.

Texas was bracing too. Frigid temperatures closed Houston schools, and utility companies brought in thousands and employees to help keep the power on.

“It’s all hands on deck,” Houston Mayor John Whitmire posted online.

In Nashville, Tennessee, the Grand Ole Opry planned to have its Saturday night radio performance without people in the Opry House — something it also did for months during the COVID-19 pandemic.

More than 1,000 flights nationwide were delayed or canceled Friday, with well over half of them in Dallas, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware. The website listed more than 1,400 cancellations for Saturday, when the worst weather could start in busy Atlanta.

Ice could take down power lines and pipes could freeze

Once ice and snow end, the frigid air from the north will head south and east. It will take a while to thaw out, an especially dangerous prospect because ice can add hundreds of pounds to power lines and branches and make them more susceptible to snapping, especially if it’s windy.

In at least 11 Southern states from Texas to Virginia, a majority of homes are heated by electricity, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

A severe cold snap five years ago took down much of the power grid in Texas, leaving millions without power for days and resulting in hundreds of deaths. Gov. Greg Abbott said Thursday that won’t happen again.

Pipes are also at risk.

In Atlanta, where temperatures could dip to 10 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 12 Celsius) and stay below freezing for 36 hours, M. Cary & Daughters Plumbing co-owner Melissa Cary ordered all the pipe and repair supplies she could get. She said her daily calls could go from about 40 to several hundred.

“We’re out there; we can’t feel our fingers, our toes; we’re soaking wet,” Cary said. “I keep the hot chocolate and soup coming.”

Northeast prepares for heavy snow

The Northeast could see its heaviest snow in years.

Boston declared a cold emergency through the weekend, and Connecticut was working with neighboring New York and Massachusetts in case travel restrictions are needed on major highways.

“Stay safe, stay home, stay off the roads. Prepare. You know, go to the grocery store, get some eggs, get some milk, get some beer, get some pizza, whatever you do for football. Stay home on Sunday and please don’t open up any stores or anything,” Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said.

Philadelphia announced schools would be closed Monday. Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. told students, “It’s also appropriate to have one or two very safe snowball fights.”

People are hunkering down

In Atlanta, Eliacar Diego spent a night under a bridge and planned to find one of the warming centers that the city opens during bitterly cold weather. News of the storm hadn’t found its way to many of the homeless people with him.

“I’ve just got to get through this weekend,” Diego said.

At the University of Georgia in Athens, sophomore Eden England decided to stay on campus and ride out the weather with her friends, even as the school encouraged students to leave dorms and go home because of concerns about losing power.

“I was texting my parents and we kind of just realized that whether I’m here or at home, it’s going to suck either way,” England said. “So I’d rather be with my friends, kind of struggling together if anything happens.”