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Ice storm warning

Weather warning for freezing rain and ice accumulation

Wikipedia contributorsAdapted for Fathomly · View authors
1 min read
Source updated April 1, 2026
Image credit is listed at the end of this article.

An ice storm warning is a hazardous weather statement issued by the Weather Forecast Offices of the National Weather Service in the United States which indicates that freezing rain produces a significant and possibly damaging accumulation of ice on surfaces. The criteria for this warning vary from state to state, but typically an ice storm warning will be issued any time more than 1⁄4 inch (6.4 mm) of ice at peak is expected to accumulate in an area, else a freezing rain or drizzle advisory is issued; in some areas, the criterion is 1⁄2 inch (13 mm) instead.

01Example of an ice storm warning

617 WWUS44 KMEG 221736 WSWMEG URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Memphis TN 1136 AM CST Thu Jan 22 2026 MSZ002>006-008-009-011>017-020>024-TNZ053>055-090>092-231230- /O.UPG.KMEG.WS.A.0001.260123T1800Z-260126T0000Z/ /O.NEW.KMEG.IS.W.0001.260124T0000Z-260126T0000Z/ Marshall-Benton MS-Tippah-Alcorn-Tishomingo-Tate-Prentiss-Quitman- Panola-Lafayette-Union-Pontotoc-Lee MS-Itawamba-Tallahatchie- Yalobusha-Calhoun-Chickasaw-Monroe-Chester-Henderson-Decatur- Hardeman-McNairy-Hardin- Including the cities of Ripley MS, Henderson, Water Valley, Coffeeville, New Albany, Oxford, Bolivar, Aberdeen, Amory, Houston, Savannah, Iuka, Booneville, Holly Springs, Pontotoc, Selmer, Marks, Ashland, Okolona, Fulton, Bruce, Senatobia, Corinth, Batesville, Tupelo, Calhoun City, Charleston, Lexington, Parsons, and Decaturville 1136 AM CST Thu Jan 22 2026 ...ICE STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM FRIDAY TO 6 PM CST SUNDAY... * WHAT...Significant icing expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations between 1 and 3 inches and ice accumulations between one half and one inch. * WHERE...Portions of North Mississippi and West Tennessee. * WHEN...From 6 PM Friday to 6 PM CST Sunday. * IMPACTS...Expect power outages that last more than a day and extensive tree damage due to the ice. Travel could be impossible. The hazardous conditions could impact the Friday evening commute. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. Prepare for extended power outages. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1. && $$
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Sources and credits

This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Ice storm warning”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

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Severe weather terminology (United States)

This article describes severe weather terminology used by the National Weather Service in the United States, a government agency operating within the Department of Commerce as an arm of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The NWS provides weather forecasts, hazardous weather alerts, and other weather-related products for the general public and special interests through a collection of national and regional guidance centers (including the Storm Prediction Center, the National Hurricane Center and the Aviation Weather Center), and 122 local Weather Forecast Offices (WFO).

Severe weather terminology (Canada)

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