Winter Storm Fern Causes Chaos Across the U.S.
Winter Storm Fern brought heavy snow and ice to 34 states on Sunday, resulting in over 11,000 flight cancellations and leaving more than a million people without power. The winter weather warning is still in effect as of Monday.
More than two-thirds of the country experienced snowfall or sleet, with more than 11,601 flight cancellations reported by Sunday evening, as noted by FlightAware. This number was nearing the 12,143 cancellations seen on March 30, 2020, during the peak of the pandemic.
Tragically, at least two men in Louisiana died from hypothermia related to the storm, according to the state’s health department. Additionally, five New Yorkers were found deceased due to the extreme cold preceding the snowfall, bringing the total toll from the storm to seven.
Both American Airlines and Delta Airlines had to cancel nearly half of their flights on Sunday, with over 1,400 cancellations each. LaGuardia Airport in New York saw 436 departing flights canceled, while JFK International Airport had 462 cancellations. In New Jersey, Newark Liberty Airport canceled 84% of its flights, totaling 444 outbound flights.
Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport was particularly hard-hit, with 597 flights canceled, while Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., had to cancel all 820 scheduled arrivals due to heavy snowfall.
FlightAware also reported that cancellations extended westward, with 92 departures canceled at LAX. In addition, over 16,000 flights were delayed overall.
The storm caused significant power outages, leaving over a million customers without electricity, according to PowerOutage.us. Around 300,000 outages were reported in Tennessee alone, with Mississippi and Louisiana both experiencing over 140,000 outages.
Other states facing widespread outages included Texas, Kentucky, Georgia, West Virginia, and Alabama. In response, Energy Secretary Chris Wright issued an emergency order to power grid operators in Texas and along the Mid-Atlantic coast, emphasizing the need to maintain reliable power amid the storm’s severity.
At least 18 states declared a state of emergency due to the storm, with 12 of them deploying National Guard troops for support, as noted by National Guard Bureau Chief Steven Nordhaus. The storm is expected to continue affecting areas from Arizona to Maine, with over 190 million Americans under winter weather alerts.
The latest forecasts from the National Weather Service predict heavy snowfall across the Ohio Valley to the Northeast, with up to 18 inches expected in New England by noon on Monday. They also warned that New York City might see snowfall totals of up to 14 inches, potentially the highest since 2021.
Interestingly, while much of the country copes with frigid weather, Florida enjoyed record-high temperatures on Sunday. Orlando hit 86 degrees, matching a record from 2023. Many Floridians are relishing the warm weather, especially those who have recently moved from colder regions.
As Joanne, a 69-year-old transplant from northern New Jersey, put it, she felt “relieved” not to face the harsh weather her old neighbors endure. “I’ve seen the weather in New York and I don’t miss it one bit,” she shared, sipping Chardonnay by the pier.
However, the warmth may be short-lived, as temperatures are expected to drop into the mid-30s by Tuesday, following Monday’s rain. Cold weather warnings are already in effect for central Florida.
