A powerful winter storm, unofficially named Fern by The Weather Channel, has swept across much of the United States, claiming multiple lives, knocking out power to over a million customers, and triggering one of the largest waves of flight cancellations in recent aviation history. As of January 25–26, 2026, the storm system—stretching nearly 2,000 miles from the Gulf Coast to the Northeast—has brought heavy snowfall, freezing rain, ice accumulation, and dangerously low temperatures, prompting emergency declarations in at least 24 states and widespread disruption.
In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed on Sunday, January 25, that five people were found dead over the weekend amid the extreme cold and snowfall. “While we do not yet know their causes of death, there is no more powerful reminder of the danger of extreme cold and how vulnerable many of our neighbours are, especially homeless New Yorkers,” Mamdani stated in a public address. Officials are investigating whether the deaths—primarily individuals found outdoors—were directly linked to hypothermia or weather-related exposure, but the mayor emphasized the storm's lethal risks for the city's unhoused population and urged residents to seek shelter.
The storm's impacts have been particularly severe in the Northeast. LaGuardia Airport in New York was forced to close after heavy snowfall blanketed runways, halting operations at a facility that normally handles over 400 daily flights. Nationwide, flight disruptions have reached historic levels: more than 11,000 U.S. flights were canceled through Sunday evening, with projections of up to 15,000 total cancellations by Monday, according to FlightAware and major carriers. This scale rivals the worst pandemic-era disruptions, stranding thousands of travelers at airports from Chicago to Boston. Additional cancellations affected Amtrak services, and several sporting events, including an NBA game between the Memphis Grizzlies and Denver Nuggets, were postponed.
Power outages have compounded the crisis. At peak, over 1 million customers lost electricity, with Tennessee reporting around 330,000 affected homes and businesses—roughly a third of the national total at one point. Ice-laden trees and power lines snapped under the weight of freezing rain in the South and mid-Atlantic, while heavy snow overloaded infrastructure farther north. Restoration efforts are ongoing, but long-duration outages remain a concern in states like Texas, Louisiana, the Carolinas, and Virginia, where ice accumulation reached up to an inch in places. The U.S. Department of Energy issued emergency orders to grid operators like PJM Interconnection and ERCOT to deploy backup resources and bypass certain restrictions to prevent further blackouts.
At least 12–13 fatalities have been confirmed nationwide as of late January 25, with reports varying slightly across sources. In addition to the five in New York City, two men in Caddo Parish, Louisiana (near Shreveport), died from hypothermia amid sub-freezing conditions. Other deaths were linked to weather-related incidents such as traffic accidents on icy roads, carbon monoxide poisoning from improper generator use, or exposure. The National Weather Service (NWS) and emergency officials stressed that indirect causes—slips on ice, vehicle crashes, or health complications from cold—often claim lives during such events.
Snowfall totals have been significant in many areas: up to 8 inches in Arkansas and Kansas, 11 inches in Illinois and Ohio, 13 inches in Indiana, 12 inches in Missouri, 7 inches in Oklahoma, 6 inches in New Jersey, and 5–8 inches in Tennessee. New York City's Central Park recorded around 8.8 inches, marking one of its largest snow events since early 2021. Winds gusted to 32 mph near JFK Airport, reducing visibility and exacerbating travel hazards. In the South, where such storms are rarer, freezing rain created treacherous “black ice” on roads, while parts of Florida, Georgia, and Alabama faced tornado watches as the system transitioned.
Twenty-four states—Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and others—declared states of emergency. President Donald Trump approved federal disaster declarations for multiple states, including Georgia, Louisiana, Arkansas, and West Virginia, enabling FEMA to pre-position search-and-rescue teams, commodities, and staff. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem warned of ongoing risks, urging precautions against cold exposure and power-related hazards.
Panic buying preceded the storm in many cities, stripping supermarket shelves of essentials like bread, milk, water, and batteries. Residents in affected areas shared scenes of resilience—children sledding on snow-covered steps in Washington, D.C., near the U.S. Capitol, or neighbors helping stranded motorists in Louisville, Kentucky—but authorities maintained urgent warnings. The NWS highlighted dangers from ice causing tree damage, impassable roads, and long-term outages, with wind chills dropping to minus 25°F or lower in northern regions.
The storm's scale tested infrastructure and response capabilities. In New York, Mayor Mamdani—sworn in on January 1, 2026—faced his first major weather crisis, with over 2,000 snow plows deployed citywide. Critics and supporters alike watched closely, drawing parallels to past mayors whose storm responses shaped legacies. Mamdani promised transparency and preparation, including pre-brining of streets and bike lanes.
As the system moves eastward and Arctic air settles in behind it, forecasters warn of lingering sub-zero temperatures through early next week, prolonging risks for vulnerable populations. Restoration of power and travel could take days in hardest-hit areas, with officials urging residents to stay indoors, check on neighbors, and avoid unnecessary travel.
This historic winter event underscores the growing intensity of extreme weather in the U.S., driven by climate patterns that amplify cold snaps and moisture-laden storms. For millions affected, the immediate focus remains survival, recovery, and safety amid the storm's deadly grip.
