Winter Storm Fern has transformed much of the country into a dangerous frozen landscape, leaving nearly 875,000 homes and businesses without power as of Sunday.
The massive weather system, stretching from the Southern Plains to the Northeast, has battered the power grid with a lethal combination of freezing rain and heavy snow. Utility crews are currently facing an uphill battle against snapped lines and ice-laden trees that continue to fall, even as the storm begins to move into its next phase.
The impact on travel has been nothing short of catastrophic. More than 10,000 flights have been grounded this weekend, marking one of the most significant aviation disruptions in years.
On the ground, road travel is virtually impossible across the Mid-Atlantic and South, where states like Arkansas, Virginia, and Maryland are buried under several inches of snow and slick ice. The severity of the conditions led Donald Trump to issue emergency disaster declarations for a dozen states, ranging from Tennessee to West Virginia, to expedite federal relief efforts.
While the snow and sleet are expected to taper off in some regions by Monday, Jan. 26, the real danger is just beginning.
A secondary surge of Arctic air is following the storm, threatening to drop temperatures to life-threatening levels across two-thirds of the nation. Wind chills are predicted to plunge well below zero, creating a high risk of frostbite and hypothermia.
Local officials are urging residents to stay indoors and keep their pets safe as this “historic” deep freeze lingers through the coming week.
