What started as a familiar winter weather alert has quickly spiraled into one of the deadliest cold snaps the U.S. has seen this season.
Winter Storm Fern has left communities reeling, families grieving, and emergency crews stretched thin, as the death toll linked to the brutal freeze climbs to at least 34.
And just as people begin digging out, forecasters say the worst may not be over yet.
A Tragic Discovery in New Jersey
Among the most sobering stories came out of New Jersey, where police in Verona confirmed the death of a 67-year-old man found unresponsive with a snow shovel still in his hand.
Authorities have not released his name, but the image has come to symbolize how dangerous even routine winter tasks became as Fern swept through.
How the Storm Spread and Intensified
The storm first slammed into the South and the Plains late Friday, coating roads with ice and dumping snow before pushing east through Sunday night.
By the time it moved on, states from Texas to Massachusetts were reporting fatalities tied to the extreme weather.
As Tuesday morning arrived, more than 525,000 homes and businesses across the country were still without power.
Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana were among the hardest hit, each reporting more than 100,000 customers in the dark, according to PowerOutage.us.
Cold That Refuses to Let Go
Even after the snow slowed, a deeper danger settled in.
Meteorologists warned that bitter cold would linger all week, with record-breaking low temperatures expected in several southern states.
The National Weather Service issued a stark message online, warning that wind chills could plunge as low as minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
They also cautioned that much colder-than-normal temperatures could stretch into early February, with growing concern about another major winter storm threatening the eastern U.S. this coming weekend.
Cities Struggling to Cope
Some cities are barely keeping up with the cleanup.
In Pittsburgh, officials declared a state of emergency after 37 snowplows broke down overnight — a crippling blow to a fleet of just 95 vehicles.
Across the country, the heavy snowfall made shoveling especially hazardous.
Several deaths have been linked to overexertion, hypothermia, and accidents during outdoor activities like sledding.
Deaths Reported From Coast to Coast
New York City officials said at least eight people were found dead outdoors as temperatures plunged between Saturday and Monday morning, though investigations into the exact causes are ongoing.
In Kansas, police using bloodhounds located the body of 28-year-old teacher Rebecca Rauber, who was found covered in snow.
She was last seen leaving a bar without her coat or phone.
Elsewhere, snowplows struck and killed pedestrians in Norwood, Massachusetts, and Dayton, Ohio.
Two teenagers — one in Arkansas and another in Texas — lost their lives in separate sledding accidents.
Young Lives Lost and Homes Turned Dangerous
Authorities in Michigan recovered the body of 19-year-old University of Michigan student Lucas Mattson over the weekend.
Police said he was last seen around 1 a.m. walking alone without a coat.
In Mississippi, 66-year-old Timothy Steele died after an ice-covered tree limb crashed through the roof of his mobile home.
In Louisiana, 86-year-old Alvin Mayweather was found dead inside his house along with at least one pet.
Investigators believe carbon monoxide poisoning was to blame, likely caused by a generator placed too close to the home.
A Deadly Plane Crash Adds to the Toll
The storm’s reach extended beyond roads and homes.
Six people were killed when a private jet crashed at an airport in Maine on Sunday.
Among the victims were Tara Arnold, 46; pilot Jacob Hosmer, 47; and event planner Shawna Collins.
Where the Numbers Stand Now
Authorities have confirmed one weather-related death each in Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey, and South Carolina.
Two fatalities were reported in Arkansas, Massachusetts, and Mississippi.
Pennsylvania, Texas, and Louisiana each recorded three deaths, Tennessee reported four, and New York has confirmed nine — the highest total of any state so far.
Frostbite Risks Stretch Deep Into the South
Even as states begin lifting emergency declarations, the National Weather Service warns that a wide stretch of the country — from Texas all the way to New York — will remain dangerously cold into Tuesday.
Morning wind chills are expected to drop into the teens and single digits as far south as the Florida Panhandle and southern Georgia.
Prolonged exposure could cause frostbite or hypothermia within minutes.
Along the Gulf Coast, including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, wind chills could sink to 10 degrees below zero, cold enough to cause frostbite in just half an hour.
Parts of the Midwest, including Ohio, Nebraska, and Minnesota, may see wind chills between minus 30 and minus 45 degrees — conditions that could turn deadly in under 20 minutes.
Another Storm Looms on the Horizon
Meteorologists say relief may be short-lived.
By Thursday, a disturbance moving in from Canada is expected to create a strong low-pressure system that could dump even more snow on the East Coast by the weekend.
WSVN meteorologist Dylan Federico described the upcoming cold as “the real deal,” saying one forecast model shows below-zero wind chills reaching all the way to the Gulf Coast by Saturday morning.
Power Outages and Travel Chaos Add to the Pain
For many, the lack of electricity is making an already dire situation worse.
In Tennessee, resident Donnie Albritton told WKRN he’s been without power since Saturday.
“We’re about to freeze to death,” he said, adding that there’s no clear timeline for repairs as utilities struggle to restore service.
Travel hasn’t offered much of an escape either.
More than 7,500 flights were delayed nationwide on Monday, with nearly 6,200 canceled.
By early Tuesday, over 1,000 flights had already been scrapped.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said air travel is expected to stabilize by Wednesday.
What Comes Next?
With temperatures plunging again, power still out in many areas, and another storm potentially lining up, officials are urging people to take the cold seriously.
Winter Storm Fern may be moving out, but the danger it unleashed is far from over.
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