"Winter Storm Fern": America Braces for Life-Threatening Deep Freeze
A "generational" winter storm, unofficially dubbed Winter Storm Fern, is currently battering the United States, putting over 230 million people—roughly two-thirds of the population—under severe weather alerts. Stretching 2,300 miles from the Southern Rockies to New England, the system is bringing a lethal combination of "catastrophic" ice, heavy snow, and record-breaking Arctic cold.
Key Impacts:
Widespread Emergencies: 17 states and Washington, D.C. have declared states of emergency. In some regions, officials warn the ice damage could rival that of a hurricane.
Travel Shutdown: More than 8,300 flights have been cancelled this weekend. Major hubs are at a standstill, and several states have banned commercial lorries from motorways due to skating rink road conditions.
Extreme Cold: Temperatures have plummeted to -40°C in the Midwest, with wind chills capable of causing frostbite in under 10 minutes.
Infrastructure Risk: Massive power outages are expected as thick ice topples trees and power lines. FEMA has already pre-positioned hundreds of thousands of meals and generators in anticipation of prolonged blackouts.
Forecasters warn that the storm will peak through Sunday as it shifts toward the East Coast, with cities like New York and Boston bracing for over a foot of snow. Residents are being urged to stay off the roads and hunker down as the "Arctic blast" lingers into early next week.