As January came to a close, the United States was hit by Winter Storm Fern, bringing record-low temperatures and more snow than many states have experienced in a century. In its wake, the country faced extreme disruption, ranging from transportation delays to power outages and temporary school and business closures. Millions across the country have been affected, and as the storm passes, communities are beginning to return to normal while recovery efforts are underway.
Winter Storm Fern led over 20 states to declare a state of emergency. Throughout the weekend, 1 million power outages were reported, taking several days for residents to regain electricity. The issue was compounded by freezing rain that snapped and broke trees, causing them to fall and destroy power lines. Though power has been steadily restored, according to NBC News, many still faced the deadly temperatures without heat on Monday night.
The Associated Press shared that at least 42 deaths connected with the storm have been reported. This includes eight people in New York City who died shoveling snow, a group of brothers in Dallas who died after falling into an ice-covered pond, and an Arkansas boy who died after crashing an ATV. Deaths are continuing to be documented as the full fate of the storm is assessed.
Planes, buses, and trains were shut down, severely inhibiting transportation. Sunday marked the largest cancellation of flights in a day since the Covid-19 pandemic in March of 2020, with over 12,000 flights affected. With icy roads and dangerous travel conditions, bus and train services were also suspended, including the New Jersey Transit system and the Pittsburgh Regional Transit. Even personal travel was restricted in Kentucky, which faced fuel shortages after trucks were unable to reach gas stations.
Schools across the country have been cancelled or transitioned to online learning as freezing temperatures and unsafe driving conditions prevented students from attending classes in person. Colleges and universities closed as well to protect the safety of students and faculty. The government followed the same pattern, including state offices in Kentucky, Maryland, and New Jersey, as well as federal offices in Washington DC.
As snowplows clear roads and crews work to restore power, the East Coast must now prepare for a second storm to hit this coming weekend. Predicted to be a bomb cyclone—a system in which pressure drops at least 24 millibars—it will bring heavy snow and strong winds. The rest of the country continues to deal with low temperatures, bringing danger to the homes and businesses still without electricity. Officials will continue to monitor conditions and issue safety warnings when necessary.