A treacherous cocktail of winter weather descended upon New England on Wednesday, 7th January 2026, bringing snow, ice, and freezing rain that triggered widespread disruption. The hazardous conditions forced dozens of school districts to close and made roads perilous, with authorities warning that more severe weather is on the horizon later this week.
Widespread Disruption and Safety Measures
The region was blanketed by a slushy mixture of rain, snow, and ice. While snow accumulations were not forecast to be particularly high, the immediate impact on travel was significant. Dozens of school districts across the six New England states cancelled classes or operated on a delayed schedule, citing unsafe conditions for school buses. The administration of Maine's Regional School Unit 21 in Kennebunk stated that with icy conditions predicted for both morning and afternoon bus routes, student and staff safety was the paramount concern.
Road conditions were severely compromised, with about a tenth of an inch of ice coating some areas. Meteorologist Jerry Combs from the National Weather Service in Gray, Maine, explained that while this was slightly less than the amount typically needed to cause major power outages from falling tree limbs, it was more than sufficient to create dangerous driving surfaces. Highway authorities in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts reported numerous traffic accidents and vehicle spinouts, though no serious injuries had been reported by late Wednesday morning.
Power Outages and Transport Impact
The icy conditions did lead to power disruptions, with several thousand outages reported. The majority were concentrated in Maine, with several hundred more in Massachusetts. The travel chaos extended to the skies, with at least five regional airports, including Boston's Logan International, forced to de-ice aircraft to combat the snow and ice buildup.
All six states – Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut – were placed under winter weather advisories by the National Weather Service (NWS). The service also issued several hazardous weather outlooks for northern areas, warning of potential winter storms in the coming days.
Further Severe Weather Forecast
The respite may be brief, as forecasters are monitoring another system expected to arrive by the weekend. The NWS indicated that the possibility of heavy rain on Friday night into Saturday, followed by a sharp drop in temperatures, could create even more treacherous driving conditions. Combs added that there is potential for snow from Saturday into Sunday.
He noted that the decision to issue an advisory on Wednesday was unusual, as the NWS typically waits for a potential of four inches of snow. However, the messy combination of elements justified the warning. "That was for the freezing rain and sleet and snow mixture," Combs said. "That makes the road conditions that much worse." Residents across New England are now bracing for a second round of disruptive winter weather as the week draws to a close.
