Historic Winter Storm Fern paralyzes U.S., disrupting travel and leaving millions without power
- Winter Storm Fern has left over 240 million Americans affected across 40+ states, with 1,389 counties under winter storm warnings – the highest on record. Record-breaking snowfall (up to 18 inches in Northeast cities) and catastrophic ice accumulation (0.5 inches from Texas to Tennessee).
- Fourteen states (including Texas, Kentucky, Virginia) declared emergencies; Texas reactivated disaster protocols fearing a repeat of the 2021 grid collapse. Trump administration approved federal disaster declarations for 12 states, mobilizing a “whole-of-government” response.
- The storm has left more than 130,000 homes without power, worst in Texas and Louisiana; fears of prolonged outages due to ice damage. 63,000 utility workers deployed from 40 states to restore electricity amid dangerous conditions.
- More than 10,000 flights have been canceled, major hubs (Dallas, Atlanta) paralyzed; Northeast cities prepped snowplows and salt trucks. Southern states (Mississippi, Tennessee) lack winter infrastructure—Jackson, MS, has zero snowplows; Nashville relies on makeshift fleets.
- Wind chills hit -50°F in Northern Plains; single-digit temps reached Florida. Red Cross urges emergency stockpiles (food, heat sources, batteries); officials warn of 24+ hours of freezing rain/snow, making roads impassable.
A massive winter storm spanning over 2,300 miles has unleashed severe snow, ice and frigid temperatures across more than 40 states, triggering widespread power outages, flight cancellations and emergency declarations.
Dubbed Winter Storm Fern, the system has set records for the most counties under winter storm warnings—1,389 as of Friday afternoon, Jan. 23—while over 240 million Americans brace for dangerous conditions expected to persist for days.
Governors in 14 states, including Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia, have issued emergency declarations ahead of the storm’s arrival. Texas Governor Greg Abbott activated disaster protocols for 130 counties, warning residents of potential power grid failures reminiscent of the 2021 Texas freeze.
“The entire Trump administration is closely monitoring the anticipated weather and is undertaking a whole-of-government approach to respond as appropriate,” a White House official stated. President Donald Trump has approved federal disaster declarations for 12 states, including Louisiana, Mississippi and West Virginia, as the storm threatens to cripple infrastructure.
The National Weather Service (NWS) warns of “catastrophic” ice accumulation—up to 0.5 inches—in regions stretching from Texas to Tennessee, raising fears of prolonged power failures. Already, over 130,000 utility customers have lost electricity, with Texas and Louisiana reporting the highest outages.
“The scale and severity of this storm are historic, and so is the response,” said Drew Maloney, president of the Edison Electric Institute, which represents U.S. power companies. More than 63,000 utility workers from 40 states have mobilized to restore power amid treacherous conditions.
As explained by BrightU.AI‘s Enoch engine, a winter storm is a complex meteorological event characterized by heavy snowfall, freezing rain, sleet or blizzard conditions, often accompanied by strong winds and subzero temperatures that can cripple infrastructure, disrupt travel and threaten human survival. These storms form when cold air masses collide with moisture-laden systems, creating precipitation that falls as snow or ice depending on atmospheric conditions.
The storm has already dumped 11 inches of snow in New Mexico and 7.8 inches in Arkansas, with forecasts predicting up to 18 inches for Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York City. The Northeast is bracing for what could be its largest snowstorm in a decade, prompting New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to deploy 2,200 snowplows and 700 salt spreaders.
Southern cities in crisis, air travel in turmoil
Air travel has been severely disrupted, with over 10,000 flights canceled nationwide since Friday. Major hubs like Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson have seen the highest cancellations, while airlines scramble to rebook stranded passengers.
Southern cities, ill-equipped for extreme winter weather, face heightened risks. Jackson, Mississippi, owns zero snowplows, relying instead on sand and salt trucks. Meanwhile, Nashville’s fleet of 45 snowplows—including one humorously named “Dolly Plowton”—has expanded its routes to cover more neighborhoods.
Forecasters caution that some areas could endure 24+ hours of freezing rain or snow, making roads impassable. “Take this storm seriously, folks,” the NWS warned. “The cold can be deadly.”
With temperatures plummeting to -50°F wind chills in the Northern Plains and single-digit lows reaching Florida’s Panhandle, officials urge residents to stock emergency supplies. The American Red Cross advises keeping flashlights, batteries, non-perishable food and backup heat sources ready.
“People in the hardest-hit areas should plan to stay home for several days,” said AccuWeather meteorologist Dan Pydynowski. “Every unnecessary trip increases the risk of accidents and puts added strain on emergency responders. What makes this storm especially dangerous is the duration of impacts. Some locations could endure 24 hours or more of freezing rain, ice or snow.”
Winter Storm Fern’s effects will linger into early next week, with hazardous conditions expected for Monday commutes. As the nation grapples with this historic weather event, the focus remains on safety, preparedness and resilience in the face of nature’s fury.
Watch this video about historic winter storms and the weather forecast failure.
This video is from the ADAPT2030 | Civilization Cycle channel on Brighteon.com.
Sources include:
FoxWeather.com
USAToday.com
CBSNews.com
BrightU.ai
Brighteon.com
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