‘Catastrophic’ weather hits U.S.

By OC Tribune Staff on January 24, 2026 • ( Leave a comment )

HALF THE nation could be hit by severe cold, snow and ice (Shutterstock).

What’s being called “catastrophic” winter weather is striking perhaps half the population of the United States.

The Associated Press reports that massive freezing storms with snow, ice and cold in and around an area ranging from Texas to New England. An estimated 182 million people are under severe weather watches and over 210 people were under cold weather watches.

The impact of the weather could rival that of a hurricane, including power outages which sometimes continue after the storm has passed because trees and power lines – coated with ice – can continue to fall.

Over 1,000 airline flights have been cancelled and homeowners are warned that pipes may burst. On the plus side (for students), schools are being closed on Monday for many areas.

Weather doesn’t deter protestors

Sub-zero temperatures in Minnesota didn’t stop a massive “anti-ICE” demonstration on Friday, a protest that saw over 100 clergy arrested at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

According to United Press International, the protests had city-granted permits, but police and other law enforcement officers began with “conduct being the agreed-upon terms.” without an specifics cited by authorities.

The event was part of a larger general strike called “ICE Out of Minnesota: Day of Truth and Freedom” protesting the surge of immigration arrests in their state, citing the shooting death of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent and calling for defunding the agency in the next federal budget.

Abortion foes rally in Washington

Anti-abortion activists are rallying to Washington this week, urging the Trump Administration to push harder on efforts to restrict the legality of ending pregnancy.

PRO-LIFE DEMONSTATORS in Washington, D.C. (Flickr).

The New York Times its reporting that he annual March for Life at the National Mall included leaders who feel that the administration – which has been successful in curbing the legal status of abortion as well as access to pregnancy-ending drugs and treatment – hasn’t done enough.

“The administration has not moved when it absolutely could move,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the anti-abortion Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America group. “So this is not the direction that we were hoping for.”

Weather: Warm is on the way

Cool weather in our West Orange County cities will soon give way to warmer days. The forecast for Saturday is for morning clouds and afternoon sun. The daytime high is predicted to be 64 with an overnight low of 45.

Sunday will be mostly cloudy with a high of 69 and a low of 46. Monday warms to 72 (46) with partly cloudy skies, and Tuesday will be similar at 72 (48) and mostly sunny skies.