A powerful winter storm, dubbed Storm Fern by The Weather Channel, is poised to slam 33 states across nearly 2,000 miles this weekend, bringing heavy snow, sleet, and dangerous ice to more than 180 million people. Forecasters warn that this could be the largest winter storm of the season, with major cities like Dallas, Oklahoma City, Nashville, Charlotte, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City all in the projected path.
The storm is expected to start taking shape on Friday in the Rockies and Plains before moving south into Texas and up into the Northeast. Significant ice accumulations in southern states could make roads impassable and bring down tree limbs and power lines, potentially leading to widespread outages. Farther north, the heavy snow threat is strongest from New Mexico and the Texas Panhandle through the Midwest and into the Northeast, where many areas could see at least six inches of snow, and in some cases, a foot or more.
Travel disruptions, including flight delays and cancellations, are expected at major hubs as snow and ice peak over the weekend. As the storm departs early next week, colder Arctic air will follow, keeping temperatures well below seasonal norms and posing additional risks of ice formation on untreated surfaces. The deep freeze in a number of states could also take out trees, power lines, and burst pipes, and forecasters urge people to take precautions and prepare ahead of time.
“This is a moisture-packed storm that’s going to be colliding with arctic air that’s off to the north of it,” said AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham. “As that occurs, a wide swath of snow and ice are expected to sweep across the central U.S., the Plains, into the Mississippi River Valley and into portions of the south and mid-south during the day Saturday.”
The storm is expected to bring significant snow and ice accumulations to a vast region, from the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains to Texas and the Northeast. Forecasters warn that this could be a “prolific snowmaker” for many areas unaccustomed to such severe winter weather, potentially leading to widespread disruptions and power outages.
