Southeastern United States Could Face Another Winter Storm Next Weekend as Arctic Air Pushes Deep Into Georgia, Carolinas, and Florida

UNITED STATES — Forecast models are increasingly signaling a potential late-January to early-February winter weather threat across the Southeastern United States, with Arctic air poised to surge much farther south than usual if a developing storm system strengthens off the East Coast next weekend.

According to the latest pattern outlook, atmospheric conditions are becoming favorable for another winter storm, but with the focus shifting well south of recent systems. If the setup holds, Georgia, South Carolina, and even parts of Florida could experience significant cold — and possibly snowflakes — during the weekend of January 31 into February 1.

Why This Pattern Is Raising Red Flags

The FOX 35 Storm Team graphic shows a classic Arctic air delivery mechanism, where high pressure to the west funnels very cold air southward, while a developing low-pressure system attempts to form offshore of the East Coast.

This setup matters because:

• A stronger coastal storm would pull Arctic air farther south
• A weaker or absent storm would still allow cold air in, but with reduced severity
• The difference between the two scenarios could mean historic cold versus simply an unusually cold stretch

In the strongest scenario, forecasters warn that major to possibly record-challenging cold could push all the way into Florida.

Snowflakes in the Southeast Are Not Off the Table

The data explicitly indicates sufficient cold air for snowflakes somewhere across the Southeast if the storm develops as modeled.

Areas being closely watched include:

• Northern and central Georgia
• Interior South Carolina
• Northern and central Florida, where temperatures could dip into the teens and 20s

While widespread snowfall is not guaranteed, the presence of Arctic air combined with an offshore storm means at least a low-end winter weather risk exists, even in areas that rarely see snow.

Florida Cold Could Approach Rare Territory

One of the more striking data points involves Orlando’s temperature history. Air temperatures there have not dropped below 25°F since 2010, and before that, the last occurrence was 1989.

If the stronger storm scenario materializes, temperatures could approach historically rare thresholds, especially across interior sections of the state.

What Determines the Outcome

Everything hinges on whether and how strongly a storm forms off the East Coast:

• Strong storm: deeper Arctic push, colder temperatures, higher chance of wintry precipitation
• Weak or no storm: still cold, but less extreme and likely below record levels

Forecast confidence is not yet locked, but models are trending back toward this colder, storm-assisted scenario.

Timing to Watch Closely

• Primary window: Saturday, January 31 through Sunday, February 1
• Confidence is expected to increase over the next several days
• Forecast adjustments are likely as models resolve storm strength and placement

Stay with WaldronNews.com for continued updates as confidence increases. We’ll track storm development, temperature trends, and the realistic potential for rare Southeast cold — including whether Florida could see one of its coldest air masses in decades.