When many Americans were preparing for a normal winter weekend, Winter Storm Fern had other plans.
Sweeping across the country with a mix of snow, ice, and fierce winds, this storm has already caused devastating losses and widespread disruption.
Experts now estimate the total economic impact could surpass $100 billion, making it one of the costliest weather events in recent U.S. history.
From Texas to New Hampshire, the storm left at least a foot of snow across 17 states, and in some places, the totals were staggering.
Bonito Lake, New Mexico, recorded a whopping 31 inches of snow, while western Pennsylvania reported up to 20 inches.
Even Boston faced its heaviest snowfall in nearly four years, with accumulations ranging from 12 to 24 inches.
Power Outages and Flight Chaos
The storm’s impact on infrastructure has been enormous.
Nearly 830,000 homes and businesses were left without power early Monday morning.
The hardest-hit states included Tennessee, where over 258,000 residents lost electricity, and Texas, where 63,000 were affected.
Power companies scrambled to restore service, with emergency measures even ordering backup generation from large energy-consuming facilities.
Air travel was equally disrupted. Over 11,500 flights were canceled nationwide on Sunday alone, with thousands more affected Monday morning.
Major airports like LaGuardia in New York City and Ronald Reagan National near Washington, D.C., were effectively shut down.
In other cities, more than 80% of scheduled flights were canceled, leaving travelers stranded.
Dangerous Cold and Record-Low Temperatures
The storm’s reach wasn’t limited to snow and ice.
Many cities, including Dallas, Houston, Austin, New Orleans, Little Rock, and Tulsa, faced record-low temperatures.
Wind chills made the cold even more biting, and officials warned of refreezing roads, prompting school closures and shutdowns of government offices across multiple states.
Nearly 136 million Americans remained under cold weather alerts as temperatures stayed 10 to 40 degrees below normal.
Despite the hazards, some people turned the storm into an opportunity for winter fun.
From Central Park in New York City to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., families and friends took to sledding, skiing, and other outdoor activities—but the risks were very real.
Tragic Fatalities Across the Nation
Unfortunately, Winter Storm Fern wasn’t just inconvenient—it was deadly.
At least 16 people lost their lives in storm-related incidents.
In New York City, five people died after being caught outside in the harsh weather.
Louisiana reported hypothermia-related deaths, while Arkansas, Michigan, Virginia, Tennessee, and Texas recorded multiple fatalities.
Texas saw two particularly tragic incidents: an unidentified man in Austin was found dead in a gas station parking lot, and a sledding accident in Frisco claimed the life of a 16-year-old girl while seriously injuring another.
The sled had been pulled by a teenage boy driving a Jeep Wrangler when it hit a curb and collided with a tree.
Other deaths included a former NYPD officer on Long Island shoveling snow and an elementary school teacher in Kansas, found in a snow pile.
Adding to the chaos, a private jet with eight passengers crashed during takeoff in Bangor, Maine, although details about injuries remain unclear.
Roads and Infrastructure Left in Shambles
The storm also turned roadways into dangerous zones.
Tennessee faced particularly treacherous conditions after tornadoes ripped through Williamson and Davidson counties, leaving downed trees and power lines blocking streets.
Sports broadcaster Clay Travis described the scene in Nashville as “looking like a war zone,” warning that conditions could worsen as temperatures dropped further.
Across the South, ice storms caused widespread outages and property damage.
Mississippi faced its worst ice storm since 1994, deploying 200,000 gallons of ice-melting chemicals, plus salt and sand, to treat roads.
The governor urged residents to stay home and check on family and friends, emphasizing the seriousness of the icy conditions.
Federal and State Response
Authorities moved quickly to respond to the unprecedented storm.
Seventeen states and the District of Columbia declared weather emergencies, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul deployed National Guard troops to assist with emergency operations.
At the federal level, President Donald Trump labeled the storm “historic” and approved disaster declarations for a dozen states, particularly in the mid-South, to provide aid and resources.
The winter storm’s combined force of snow, ice, and freezing temperatures has left a lasting impact on communities nationwide, and officials continue to urge residents to exercise extreme caution.
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