Ice-covered trees fell across a road in Nashville. A father and son went sledding on the street in Texas. Huge snow banks taller than a man were spotted in upstate New York.
Oh, and icicles. Icicles everywhere.
These are the scenes captured in photos as a deadly winter storm impacted states from Texas to New England, leaving a swath of the nation covered in snow and ice.
See stunning photos from the massive winter storm blanketing the US
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Much of the nation east of the Rocky Mountains is hunkered down for what could be the worst winter storm of the season, followed by some of the coldest temperatures seen in years. The storm began out of Texas and Oklahoma Friday evening, hitting the region with heavy sleet and snow. Forecasters have warned of “catastrophic” ice accumulation. On Saturday, the system is expected to push towards Virginia, dumping a foot of snow or more on parts of the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic, while New England sees double-digit subzero temperatures. See the dramatic scenes of frigid cold temperatures, beginning here with an image of a jogger on the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge in Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 24, 2026.
Power outages, flight cancellations, and cold weather dangers dominated the news, as Americans stuck rulers in piles of snow and crews worked feverishly to clear roads.
Journalists documented a stunning before-and-after video in Ohio.
A blanket of hazy white snow caused a surreal scene in Massachusetts.
More than an inch an hour of snow is falling Jan. 25 in Ashburnham at frozen Upper Naukeag Lake.
And in Louisville, Kentucky, an officer doing welfare checks got confused by a statue in the snow, according to a social media post from the Louisville Metro Police Dept.
That’s just the beginning of the stunning photos and videos left in the wake of the winter storm.
New York State Department of Transportation Equipment Operator Instructor Jeremy Johnson measures himself against a snowbank in northern Oswego County on Jan. 24, 2026.
Follow along with USA TODAY’s visual coverage of the snow, ice and freezing cold:
Massive winter storm blankets nation. See photos
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Drivers navigate icy conditions on Briley Parkway in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. A winter storm brought snow and ice to Middle Tennessee starting on Saturday.
How deep is the snow from the winter storm? Photos tell the story
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Eileen William of Tarrytown, NY gets the brunt of the snow being blown by her son William, as they clear the snow from their driveway at the height of the winter storm Jan. 25, 2026. The storm was predicted to drop up to a foot of snow on the lower Hudson Valley. A huge winter storm dumped heavy amounts of snow and ice across wide swaths of the U.S. See photos that capture the scale from around the country.
See animals and pets outdoors amid intense winter storm
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(This story was updated to add new information and to change or add a photo or video.)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: These are some of the best winter storm photos showing surreal scenes