Winter Storm Fern spreads ice and heavy snow across the U.S., triggering emergencies and widespread outages

A storm with national-scale impacts

Winter Storm Fern is pushing a wide band of snow, sleet and freezing rain across the United States, with impacts stretching from the southern Rockies through the Plains and Midwest and into the Ohio Valley and the Northeast. Forecasts show a high-end ice threat in parts of the South and interior Southeast, while heavier snow expands north and east into major population corridors.

Authorities across multiple regions are urging residents to avoid travel and prepare for power disruptions. The National Weather Service has warned of potentially “catastrophic” ice accumulation in some corridors, a scenario that can quickly bring down trees and power lines and make roads effectively impassable.

Power outages and travel snarls grow

As precipitation spreads into new areas, power outages have climbed sharply in parts of the South and lower Mississippi Valley. Utilities have warned that restoration could be slow in the hardest-hit areas because crews may not be able to reach damaged infrastructure while roads remain coated in ice and temperatures stay below freezing.

Air travel has also taken a major hit. Airlines have canceled and delayed thousands of flights as de-icing demands surge and airport operations slow. Road travel is also deteriorating in multiple states, with officials reporting closures and urging people to stay off highways during the peak icing period.

Cold lingers after the wintry mix

Behind the storm, bitter cold is expected to prolong problems. Even after precipitation ends, lingering ice can keep roads hazardous and stress power systems, especially as heating demand rises. Emergency managers are warning that extended outages in very low temperatures can quickly become life-threatening, particularly for vulnerable residents.

• If you must travel, check state DOT road conditions and local alerts before leaving.
• Charge devices and keep backup power handy; conserve phone battery during outages.
• Use safe heating practices and avoid running generators indoors or in garages.

Officials say conditions may continue to evolve rapidly as Fern’s track shifts, with the highest-impact band changing by county. Residents are being urged to monitor updated warnings through Sunday and into early week as the system advances toward the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.