This Mega Snowstorm Will Be a Test for the US Supply Chain | WIREDSkip to main contentMenuSECURITYPOLITICSTHE BIG STORYBUSINESSSCIENCECULTUREREVIEWSMenuAccountAccountNewslettersBest Office ChairsBone Conduction HeadphonesBest Digital NotebooksBest Motorola PhonesTCL DealDeals DeliveredSecurityPoliticsThe Big StoryBusinessScienceCultureReviewsChevronMoreExpandThe Big InterviewMagazineEventsWIRED InsiderWIRED ConsultingNewslettersPodcastsVideoMerchSearchSearchSign InSign InAarian MarshallGearJan 23, 2026 8:19 PMThis Mega Snowstorm Will Be a Test for the US Supply ChainShipping experts say the big winter storm across a wide swath of the country should be business as usual—if their safeguards hold.Photograph: Lokman Vural Elibol/Getty ImagesCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyHere it comes. Up to two-thirds of the US is facing down the threat of serious snow, cold, and ice this weekend, with the potential to snarl roads (and the businesses that depend on them) from Texas up to New York City. At this point, grocery stores, logistics experts, warehouse operators, and trucking companies have been prepping for days. Still, the effects on the supply chain—and the retail store shelves that depend on them—are yet to be determined.On one hand, this is winter business as usual. Snowstorms happen every year, and the freight industry has a playbook.“If you’re a retailer, this happens all the time,” says Chris Caplice, the chief scientist at the transportation management firm DAT Freight & Analytics. “For people in the supply chain, this is just another Tuesday.”On the other hand, the places where this storm is happening, and its breadth, pose an extra challenge.“This one’s kinda tough, because you don't have a lot of snow storms hitting the states that this one is hitting,” says Chris Long, the executive vice president of operations at Capstone Logistics, a third-party logistics firm. Affected southern states, including Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, are often equipped to handle hurricanes, with networks of distribution centers set up to disburse what’s often needed after that sort of storm: generators, water, plywood. But if roads in those states, less equipped for cold, freeze over for several days—“the worst-case scenario,” Long says—buyers might see shortages of some perishable items, including food and pharmaceuticals.To prevent that, retailers have spent the last few days positioning specific inventory they know customers will want—say, snow shovels, bottled water, canned goods, de-icer—in local distribution warehouses, where it can quickly get to store shelves. Large trucking companies have situated their vehicles and staff where they’ll likely be needed; independent truckers have likely vacated the road.Next week, as everyone digs or thaws out of whatever the storm has wrought, freight prices will likely spike, says Caplice, as freight companies try to get the supply chain chugging again. But this sort of shock is likely priced into retailers’ businesses—it’s winter, after all—and won’t affect the prices customers see at checkout. This year, uncertainty in the freight industry around tariffs and immigration is a much bigger deal, he says. “This will be a blip.”Whatever the next few days bring, companies are likely better equipped to respond than they were before the pandemic, when lockdowns sent global supply chains into turmoil. “When I first got into the industry it was all about ‘just-in-time,’” says Long, who worked for years in the grocery industry. The pandemic made retailers, and the freight businesses supporting them, more focused on stocking up to survive the unexpected. “We’re in a way better place,” he says.CommentsBack to topTriangleYou Might Also LikeIn your inbox: Maxwell Zeff's dispatch from the heart of AIThe best EVs coming in 2026Big Story: Your first humanoid coworker will be ChineseWhat to do if ICE invades your neighborhoodSpecial edition: You’re already living in the Chinese centuryAarian Marshall is a staff writer covering transportation and cities. Before joining WIRED, she wrote for The Atlantic’s CityLab. Marshall is based in Seattle, where she’s learning to love rain. ... Read MoreStaff WriterXTopicsweatherInfrastructureshippinglogisticsSnowRead MoreTopResume Packages and Free Resume Review: Everything You Need to Get Hired in 2026Discover ways to save at TopResume, including their free review service and 4-week Career Services Platform trial.Paramount+ Coupon Codes and Deals: Free Trial, Student Deals, and Military Discounts This 2026Save on streaming with the latest Paramount+ promo codes and deals, including 50% off subscriptions, free trials, and more.Home Depot Promo Codes: $100 Off in January 2026Save an extra $100 or up to 50% today with the latest Home Depot promo codes for appliances, power tools, and more this January.HP Coupon Codes and Deals January 2026Save up to 60%, plus an extra 20% with HP promo codes for laptops, printers, PCs, and more tech.This Mega Snowstorm Will Be a Test for the US Supply ChainShipping experts say the big winter storm across a wide swath of the country should be business as usual—if their safeguards hold.Clearly Filtered Is on a Sitewide Sale Right NowClearly Filtered water pitchers, bottles, and under-sink filters are 10 to 19 percent off. I tested three filters to see how they performed.Uncanny Valley: Donald Trump’s Davos Drama, AI Midterms, and ChatGPT’s Last ResortOn this episode of Uncanny Valley, our hosts unpack the news from Davos, where Trump and major AI companies shared the stage at the World Economic Forum.US Judge Rules ICE Raids Require Judicial Warrants, Contradicting Secret ICE MemoThe ruling in federal court in Minnesota lands as Immigration and Customs Enforcement faces scrutiny over an internal memo claiming judge-signed warrants aren’t needed to enter homes without consent.TikTok Is Now Collecting Even More Data About Its Users. Here Are the 3 Biggest ChangesAccording to its new privacy policy, TikTok now collects more data on its users, including their precise location, after majority ownership officially switched to a group based in the US.Skip the Shovel: How to Prep for the Biggest Storm of the SeasonBitter cold, power outages, and impassible roads are a terrible cocktail. Here’s how to prep and bunker in for an extreme winter storm.Our Favorite Earbuds for Most People Are Over 25 Percent OffThese excellent earbuds were already a good deal before the discount.CBP Wants AI-Powered ‘Quantum Sensors’ for Finding Fentanyl in CarsUS Customs and Border Protection is paying General Dynamics to create prototype “quantum sensors,” to be used with an AI database to detect fentanyl and other narcotics.Wired CouponsSquarespace Promo CodeExclusive 10% Off Squarespace Promo CodeLG Promo CodeBuy an eligible French Door Refrigerator and get a free Single Door Refrigerator (up to $515 value)!Dell Coupon Code10% off Dell Coupon Code for New CustomersSamsung Promo CodeSamsung Promo Code: 10% off TVsCanon Promo Code10% off Canon promo code with upgradeDoorDash Promo Code$25 off $25+ DoorDash Promo Code for New CustomersWIRED is obsessed with what comes next. Through rigorous investigations and game-changing reporting, we tell stories that don’t just reflect the moment—they help create it. When you look back in 10, 20, even 50 years, WIRED will be the publication that led the story of the present, mapped the people, products, and ideas defining it, and explained how those forces forged the future. WIRED: For Future Reference.SubscribeNewslettersTravelFAQWIRED StaffWIRED EducationEditorial StandardsArchiveRSSSite MapAccessibility HelpReviewsBuying GuidesStreaming GuidesWearablesCouponsGift GuidesAdvertiseContact UsManage AccountJobsPress CenterCondé Nast StoreUser AgreementPrivacy PolicyYour California Privacy Rights© 2026 Condé Nast. All rights reserved. WIRED may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. Ad ChoicesSelect international siteUnited StatesLargeChevronItaliaJapónCzech Republic & SlovakiaFacebookXPinterestYouTubeInstagramTiktok

This mega snowstorm presents a significant, albeit potentially manageable, test for the US supply chain. As Chris Caplice, chief scientist at DAT Freight & Analytics, notes, for those within the industry, the event is “just another Tuesday.” However, the sheer scale and geographic breadth of this particular storm—affecting states like Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas—introduces complexities that go beyond routine winter weather disruptions. The storm’s impact hinges heavily on the effectiveness of the safeguards implemented by logistics firms and retailers.

The primary concern, highlighted by Chris Long, executive vice president of operations at Capstone Logistics, revolves around the potential for prolonged road closures due to freezing conditions. Southern states, less accustomed to severe cold, are particularly vulnerable. If roads remain impassable for several days—the “worst-case scenario,” as Long describes it—it could lead to shortages of perishable goods, including food and pharmaceuticals. This scenario underscores a shift in preparedness. Pre-pandemic, retailers operated under the “just-in-time” inventory model, prioritizing efficiency and minimizing stockpiles. The pandemic forced a change, with companies recognizing the need to build resilience against unexpected disruptions.

Retailers have already taken proactive measures, strategically positioning snow shovels, bottled water, canned goods, and de-icer in local distribution warehouses to ensure rapid response to localized demand. Large trucking companies have similarly repositioned their vehicles and staff to areas where they are most needed. However, these efforts are contingent on the ability of freight traffic to resume quickly once conditions improve.

Following the storm’s passage, freight prices are expected to spike as transportation companies work to restore supply chain flow. Based on Caplice's assessment, this price increase is likely already factored into retailers' operations. This year, however, the supply chain faces a different set of challenges—specifically, uncertainties surrounding tariffs and immigration, which are significantly more impactful than the typical winter storm disruption. The pre-pandemic focus on “just-in-time” inventory management has created a greater capacity for companies to withstand these broader, more systemic issues.

Ultimately, this mega snowstorm serves as a critical test of the resilience built within the US supply chain. By focusing on preparedness, strategic inventory management, and the ability to rapidly respond to localized demand, the industry—as indicated by Chris Long—is in “a way better place” than before the pandemic, suggesting a stronger foundation for navigating future challenges.