Deadly Winter Storm Fern Paralyzes US, Killing At Least 12 and Grounding Thousands of Flights
At least 12 dead and over 1 million powerless as "Winter Storm Fern" plunges the U.S. into a historic Arctic freeze. With 180 million people under life-threatening alerts and the National Guard deployed across 25 states, authorities warn of a "deadly siege" that could last into February.
A brutal winter storm, dubbed Fern, has unleashed an unprecedented Arctic cold wave across much of the United States, resulting in at least seven fatalities, widespread power outages affecting over 800,000 households, and massive disruptions to travel and daily life. The National Guard has been mobilized in hard-hit areas, with states of emergency declared in 25 states amid life-threatening conditions extending from Texas to New England.
The storm, fueled by a weakened polar vortex that allowed frigid Arctic air to plunge southward, has impacted approximately 180 million people with bone-chilling temperatures, heavy snow, sleet, and ice. In the South, where infrastructure is less prepared for such extremes, temperatures have plummeted 20 degrees below seasonal norms, leading to hazardous ice buildup on roads, power lines, and trees.
The National Weather Service has warned of "life-threatening" conditions, with snow and ice likely to linger for days, complicating recovery efforts.
Fatalities include two men in Louisiana who succumbed to hypothermia, similar cases in Texas and Kansas, and three additional storm-related deaths in Tennessee. In New York City, five people died over the weekend, though exact causes are still under investigation. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear highlighted the severity, noting that ice accumulation exceeded forecasts, posing risks to power infrastructure.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul urged residents to stay indoors, describing it as "the coldest Arctic siege we've seen in years" with "dangerous and bone-chilling" conditions. Power outages have been rampant, particularly in the Southeast, where ice has downed lines and trees. In Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser called it the most significant snow event in a decade, leading to closures of schools, roads, and even a postponed US Senate vote.
Air travel has been severely hampered, with over 11,000 flights canceled nationwide, including major hubs like New York's airports, which saw record snowfall of 13.5 inches in Queens. Meteorologists attribute the storm's intensity to the polar vortex disruption, predicting the cold snap could persist into February.
Neighboring Canada faces similar woes, with heavy snow in Ontario expecting up to 30 cm (about 12 inches) of accumulation. The National Guard's deployment underscores the crisis, aiding in rescues, warming centers, and road clearances amid warnings of prolonged sub-zero temperatures and wind chills as low as -40°F in some areas. This event marks one of the most widespread winter storms in recent years, reminiscent of the 2021 Texas freeze but with broader reach, prompting federal coordination for relief efforts.
Authorities advise residents to prepare for extended outages and avoid travel, as recovery could take days in the hardest-hit regions.