The National Weather Service has issued winter storm watches for several regions as of January 22, 2026, including parts of Texas and the St. Louis area, with watches covering January 23–25 in Texas and January 24–25 around St. Louis. A winter storm watch means hazardous winter weather, such as heavy snow, sleet, or freezing rain, is possible and could reach locally significant thresholds within the next days, and conditions may make travel dangerous and cause power outages.
What a winter storm watch actually means
A winter storm watch is an early alert, not a guarantee. Forecasters issue a watch when the probability of meeting local warning criteria rises, but timing and amounts remain uncertain. In plain terms, a watch tells households, businesses, and agencies to get ready, review plans, and avoid last-minute scrambling.
Typical timing and confidence
- Watches are usually issued 12 to 72 hours before expected impacts, depending on the local forecast office and the situation.
- They often reflect a roughly 50% to 80% chance that warning-level conditions will be met.
- When confidence rises, a watch may be upgraded to a winter storm warning, an ice storm warning, or a blizzard warning, or downgraded to an advisory if impacts look smaller.
What meteorologists look for
Meteorologists consider precipitation type, expected accumulation, timing relative to rush hours, temperatures at the surface and aloft, and wind. Small shifts in a storm track, or subtle changes in temperature layers, can change the mix from snow to freezing rain, and that changes the hazard profile dramatically.
How watches, warnings, and advisories differ
Product | Typical lead time | Typical criteria (varies by region) | What you should do |
|---|---|---|---|
Winter Storm Watch | 12 to 72 hours | Possibility of heavy snow, significant ice, or a blizzard meeting local warning thresholds (examples below) | Prepare, check plans, consider changing travel plans |
Winter Storm Warning | 6 to 24 hours | Expected to meet or exceed local warning thresholds, such as 6–7 inches of snow in 24 hours or 1/4 inch of ice | Take action now, avoid travel, secure property |
Winter Weather Advisory | 6 to 24 hours | Less-severe accumulations that cause inconvenience, such as light snow or minor icing | Use caution, allow extra travel time |
Note, local forecast offices set exact numeric thresholds. In some places a few inches of snow triggers a warning, while in places used to heavy snow the threshold is higher.
Recent watches and why forecasters flagged them
Local forecast offices issued watches for late January 2026 because models showed a strong storm track and a developing surface low that could produce a swath of wintry precipitation across a broad region. In Texas, meteorologists highlighted a risk of mixed precipitation, including freezing rain that can bring ice accumulation and knock down power lines. In the St. Louis region, forecast shifts increased the expected snowfall in some model runs, enough to trigger watches for the January 24–25 period.
Forecasters emphasize the uncertainty. Model ensembles do not all agree on exact amounts and the north-south track of the storm, and small differences in track could change which counties see heavy snow versus sleet and freezing rain.
Multiple viewpoints: meteorologists, emergency managers, and residents
- Meteorologists stress the need for lead time, saying watches help governments and utilities position crews and supplies.
- Emergency managers tend to treat a watch as a trigger to stand up incident teams, check warming centers, and prepare road treatment resources.
- Some residents see watches and rush to stores, creating supply strains, while others question frequent alerts and say repeated watches that do not escalate can erode trust.
Both sides make valid points. Watches provide critical preparation time, but clear communication about uncertainty and likely impacts matters to keep public response proportional.
"A WATCH means, Be Prepared. A WARNING means, Take Action."
What you should do now, step by step
- Stay informed: sign up for local alerts, follow your county or city emergency page, and monitor the National Weather Service office that covers your area.
- Reconsider travel: avoid nonessential travel during watch periods and especially if a warning is issued.
- Gather supplies: aim for at least 72 hours of food, water, and medicines for your household.
- Prepare your home: insulate pipes, check heating fuel or backup generators, and test carbon monoxide and smoke detectors.
- Vehicle kit: keep a blanket, warm clothes, shovel, flashlight, phone charger, water, and snacks in your car.
- Check on neighbors: older adults and people with medical needs are at higher risk from power loss and cold.
Quick preparedness checklist
- Food and water for 72 hours
- Prescription medicines and pet supplies
- Battery-powered radio and spare phone power banks
- Rock salt, sand, or cat litter for traction
- Tools to keep pipes from freezing, such as insulation and faucet covers
Travel, power outages, and health risks
Winter storms bring layered hazards. Heavy, wet snow and ice can down branches and power lines, leaving homes without heat. Prolonged outages raise the risk of hypothermia and carbon monoxide poisoning, when people use generators or indoor grills to try to stay warm. Overexertion while shoveling is a known cause of cardiac events, especially among older adults.
If you become stranded in a vehicle, stay inside, run the engine briefly for warmth while keeping the exhaust clear, and conserve phone battery. If you lose heat indoors, find warm public spaces like libraries or warming centers if they are available and safe to reach.
When a watch becomes a warning
A watch is typically upgraded to a warning when confidence is high that warning-level conditions will occur. That upgrade often happens within 12 to 24 hours of the event, but the exact timing depends on the forecast office and how fast the situation is evolving. When a warning is in effect, life-safety actions matter: cancel travel, follow local emergency instructions, and avoid exposing yourself to extreme cold.
How to follow updates without panic
- Use the local National Weather Service office web page and the NOAA Weather Radio as primary sources.
- Local emergency management pages and official social accounts will post closures and shelter locations.
- Avoid speculation on social media and check multiple reliable sources before acting.
The bigger picture: storms, moisture, and climate context
Climate scientists note that a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, which can increase the potential for heavy precipitation when conditions are cold enough to produce snow. That does not mean every big snow is caused by climate change, but it is one factor that can change storm character, and it helps explain why some storms produce surprisingly large snowfall totals in short periods.
Sample of what an NWS watch product looks like (technical)
```text
Product: Winter Storm Watch
Issuing Office: [Local NWS office]
Event: Heavy Snow Possible, Freezing Rain Possible
Valid: From [Start date/time] to [End date/time]
Areas: [List of counties or zones]
Impacts: Travel could be hazardous, power outages possible
Recommended Actions: Monitor forecasts and prepare to take action
```
Final takeaways
A winter storm watch is your cue to prepare, but not to panic. Use the extra lead time to finalize plans, secure supplies, and check on people who may need help. Forecasts can change, so keep monitoring official updates. If a warning replaces a watch, treat it as a clear signal to take life-safety actions and stay off the roads.
If you need immediate guidance, contact your local emergency management office, and follow instructions from the National Weather Service and community officials.