Winter Storm Fern Slams U.S. With Ice And Snow

As Winter Storm Fern barrels across the United States, millions of Americans are bracing for a weekend of hazardous weather that experts warn could rival the impacts of a hurricane. The sprawling system—stretching over 2,300 miles from Arizona to Maine—has already unleashed a mix of heavy snow, sleet, and crippling ice, with more than 220 million people potentially affected between January 24 and 26, 2026, according to The Weather Channel.

On Friday, January 23, the first signs of the storm materialized in the Plains. Hays, Kansas, recorded six inches of snow by early Saturday, while Norman, Oklahoma, had three inches, reports FOX Weather. The storm quickly intensified, arriving ahead of some computer model forecasts and setting a new record for the highest number of counties simultaneously under a Winter Storm Warning, according to FOX Weather. By Saturday morning, the system had expanded its grip, prompting Winter Weather Alerts for more than 190 million Americans and triggering states of emergency in at least 21 states, from Texas and Louisiana to New York and Connecticut.

In North Carolina, Governor Josh Stein declared a State of Emergency as meteorologists warned of a "potentially catastrophic ice storm" set to hit the region through Monday, January 26. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) held a media briefing Saturday to update residents on rapidly deteriorating road conditions. Central North Carolina was forecast to experience moderate to heavy mixed precipitation, including sleet and freezing rain, with possible snow in the Piedmont region, as reported by ABC11 WTVD. "Roads, especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous," officials warned, adding that significant ice accumulation on power lines and tree limbs could cause widespread and long-lasting power outages.

The worries are not limited to North Carolina. Across the South, ice storm warnings and severe cold have left more than 346,000 customers without power as of Sunday morning, January 25, with Texas (over 98,000 outages), Mississippi (over 88,000), and Louisiana (76,000) hardest hit, according to Poweroutage.us. Duke Energy, which serves millions in the Carolinas, has mobilized more than 18,000 workers from 27 states and Canada to restore power as soon as it is safe. "Freezing rain is going to be our enemy over the days ahead," said Rick Canavan, Duke Energy’s storm director, as quoted by The Weather Channel. "It will build up on tree branches until the weight causes them to break – bringing down power lines and poles. The freezing rain and ice will also make roads extremely difficult for our crews to navigate, slowing power restoration efforts."

Travel has become a logistical nightmare. As of Saturday, 350 flights were canceled at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) alone, with nationwide cancellations surpassing 14,000 since the storm began, according to FlightAware and ABC11 WTVD. On Sunday, cancellations climbed past 10,000, with major hubs like Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Charlotte, and Atlanta especially hard-hit. The Associated Press reports that even the typically unflappable Waffle House chain has closed locations in South Carolina’s Upstate—a rare move that, according to FEMA, signals true disaster severity.

Road conditions have deteriorated rapidly. In Tennessee, Sergeant Ellis from the Highway Patrol demonstrated the perils of travel, noting, "Going isn't the problem — stopping is." His windshield was completely frosted, and roads salted just hours earlier had already refrozen, The Weather Channel reports. In Arkansas, Department of Transportation crews worked through the night, only to see plowed highways quickly covered again, with Dave Parker of ARDOT describing the effort as "definitely a marathon."

As the storm presses east, the Northeast is bracing for its turn. According to meteorologist Tiffany Savona of The Weather Channel, major cities are expected to see significant snow: Washington, D.C., 6-9 inches; Philadelphia, 9-12 inches; New York City, 6-12 inches; and Boston, a staggering 16-20 inches, all snow. Up to a quarter inch of ice is possible from D.C. to Philadelphia and just outside New York City, raising concerns about additional outages and dangerous travel. Boston, Burlington, and Syracuse are forecast to see all snow until the storm moves out, while a wintry mix could reach as far north as Hartford and Providence.

Extreme cold is compounding the crisis. The National Weather Service has issued Cold Weather Alerts across the Upper Midwest, Plains, and Northeast. Temperatures are expected to remain well below freezing through the weekend, with wind chills in the Northeast making it feel like single digits or even below zero. In the Deep South, Atlanta faces an ice storm warning and extreme cold advisory, with wind chills potentially dropping to 0°F. Meteorologist Jennifer Gray warns that "record cold temperatures could fall between Sunday and Monday alone for many locations across Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas."

States of emergency have been declared in a broad swath of the country, including Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Missouri, Kansas, Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Indiana, Connecticut, and Washington, D.C., as reported by FOX Weather and The Weather Channel. President Donald Trump stated on social media that the administration is coordinating with state and local officials and that FEMA is fully prepared to respond.

Communities are taking extraordinary measures to prepare. Supermarket shelves have been cleared from Texas to New York as residents stock up on supplies, and animal shelters across the Southeast have reported empty kennels after calls for foster volunteers, ensuring pets have a safe, warm place to weather the storm, The Weather Channel notes. In Atlanta, city officials have issued tips to prevent pipes from bursting, urging residents to insulate pipes, let faucets drip, and keep thermostats above 55°F.

In New York City, the Department of Corrections canceled all package and visitor drop-offs for Rikers Island on Sunday due to the storm, with services expected to resume Wednesday. The city is under a winter storm warning from 3 a.m. Sunday to 6 p.m. Monday, with snowfall up to a foot possible and gusts up to 35 mph threatening to reduce visibility and worsen travel conditions.

Despite the severity, some are finding moments of levity. In New York, one family turned their backyard into a hockey rink, making the most of the winter wonderland before the worst of Fern arrives. Meanwhile, in Oklahoma, a "snow-nado"—a swirling column of windblown snow—captivated onlookers amid the storm’s early onslaught.

With the storm expected to wind down from west to east by Monday, the aftermath—marked by lingering cold, potential for further outages, and continued travel disruptions—will likely persist for days. As the nation grapples with this historic storm, officials urge everyone to stay safe, stay informed, and, if possible, simply stay home.