HOUSTON (AP) — A blast of winter weather brought snowfall and subfreezing wind chills across the Midwest and East Coast on Saturday as well as near-freezing temperatures in parts of the South, including normally balmy Florida.
In northeastern Ohio, sudden bursts of heavy snow and gusty winds created whiteout conditions, according to the National Weather Service. Snow squall conditions moved into the Cleveland metro area and were expected to continue east into Pennsylvania and parts of eastern New York.
“Expect visibilities of less than a quarter of a mile and rapid snow accumulation on roadways. Travel will be difficult and possibly dangerous in the heavy snow,” the National Weather Service warned.
Below-average temperatures in the Central and Eastern U.S. were predicted for the weekend and into early next week.
“The next few nights are forecast to be very cold for much of the Central and Eastern United States,” the Weather Prediction Center, part of the National Weather Service, said. “Sub-zero wind chills are forecast from the Plains to the Midwest and Northeast, with the coldest wind chills expected in the Upper Midwest on Sunday night.”
“Impactful snowfall” was forecast to begin late Saturday up and down the East Coast, from the western Florida Panhandle to Maine, according to the prediction center. Snow was expected to blanket Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island by Sunday night, with some areas getting up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) of snow.
Meanwhile Oklahoma, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida were expected to have near-freezing temperatures at least through the weekend.
In Tallahassee, Florida, there could be some snowfall Sunday morning, according to the National Weather Service. But it should not last long.
“So here in Tallahassee, the likelihood of any snow accumulation is not zero, but it’s very low. I mean the ground will be just too warm for anything to stick and accumulate,” said Kristian Oliver, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s office in Tallahassee.
It would be the second time in as many years that the state has seen snow: In January 2025 up to 10 inches (25 centimeters) fell in parts of the Panhandle, part of a record-breaking snowstorm that impacted the Deep South including other normally snow-free places like Houston and New Orleans.
“On average we have an event like this maybe every few years. But having two back to back I’d say is pretty anomalous for the area,” Oliver said.
Up to 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) was forecast for central Georgia south of Atlanta, with the heaviest snowfall expected between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m.
“Plan on slippery roads during the snow, as well as on Sunday night into Monday morning as remaining water/snow refreezes,” the National Weather Service’s Atlanta office said.
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A protective coating of ice clings to ornamental plants in sub-freezing temperatures at a business Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in Plant City, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Icicles cling to some vines along a barbed wire fence at an ornamental plant business in sub-freezing temperatures Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in Plant City, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
LENS, France (AP) — Winger Wesley Saïd scored a brilliant goal to secure Lens' 10th consecutive win across all competitions and place atop the Ligue 1 standings on Saturday.
Lens defeated Auxerre 1-0 after Saïd controlled with his chest Malang Sarr’s cross into the box and finished with a left-footed volley from the bounce. The 65th-minute goal was his eighth this season.
Lens, which claimed its only French title in 1998, stayed one point ahead of defending champion Paris Saint-Germain, which beat Lille on Friday.
Next-to-last in the standings, Auxerre was not intimidated by the buoyant crowd and posed a strong challenge to the host with intense pressing.
After a first half of few clear chances, Lens showed more intent and Matthieu Udol, set up by Adrien Thomasson, came close to breaking the deadlock. The ball fell back to Udol who struck again only for defender Fredrik Oppegård to block.
Udol then delivered a low cross toward the near post for Thomasson, whose effort went just wide. Lens kept pushing and was finally rewarded when Saïd slotted home.
Third-place Marseille put on a display of collective force and won at mid-table Angers 5-2 ahead of a Champions League showdown with Liverpool next week.
Angers' defense imploded quickly and Marseille led 4-0 after 40 minutes before Amine Sbaï pulled one back for the host just before the interval.
Amine Gouiri put Marseille in the lead followed by goals from Mason Greenwood and Hamed Traore. Winger Timothy Weah added a header to cap a slick collective move. Igor Paixao made it 5-1 in the 88th and Jim Allevinah reduced the gap after a breakout.
Santiago Hidalgo started in place of the suspended Emersonn and scored twice as Toulouse thrashed Nice 5-1. It was Toulouse's third win in four Ligue 1 matches.
New signing Elye Wahi was on the scoresheet for Nice.
Toulouse has 29 goals, its best total after 18 rounds since 1998. The team was seventh in the standings, 17 points behind Lens.
PSG warmed up for next week's Champions League match at Sporting with a convincing 3-0 win over Lille on Friday. Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé scored a brace. Monaco fell to its seventh defeat in eight games, at home to Lorient 3-1.
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Auxerre's Lamine Sy, right, challenges for the ball with Lens' Matthieu Udol during the French League One soccer match between Lens and Auxerre in Lens, France, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
Lens' Matthieu Udol, centre, and Auxerre's Clement Akpa, right, in action during the French League One soccer match between Lens and Auxerre in Lens, France, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
Lens' Florian Thauvin, left, in action during the French League One soccer match between Lens and Auxerre in Lens, France, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
Lens' Wesley Said celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the French League One soccer match between Lens and Auxerre in Lens, France, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
Lens' Wesley Said scores his side's opening goal during the French League One soccer match between Lens and Auxerre in Lens, France, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
