WASHINGTON, D.C. — A monster winter weather system, unofficially dubbed Winter Storm Fern, is currently laying siege to the United States, leaving a 2,000-mile trail of ice, heavy snow, and record-breaking cold. As of Sunday, January 25, 2026, the storm has placed more than 195 million people under weather alerts and triggered states of emergency in at least 22 states.
Travel Chaos and Mass Cancellations
Sunday has lived up to its billing as one of the worst travel days in recent history. The aviation sector is in a state of near-total collapse across major hubs:
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Flights: Over 13,500 flights have been cancelled since Saturday. At Reagan National Airport (DCA), a staggering 97% of outbound flights were axed on Sunday morning.
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Roadways: Authorities have described travel as “impossible” in parts of the South and Midwest. Major stretches of I-95, I-80, and I-70 are seeing dangerous conditions, with heavy snow in the North and a treacherous “glaze” of ice in the South.
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Rail: Amtrak has suspended dozens of routes, and NJ Transit has halted most bus and light rail services for the day.
Power Grid Under Pressure
The storm’s heavy ice accumulation—reaching up to 0.75 inches in some southern regions—has turned trees and power lines into brittle hazards.
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Outages: More than 317,000 customers are currently without power, with the hardest-hit areas spanning from Texas to Tennessee.
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Grid Alerts: Grid operators like PJM Interconnection and MISO have issued emergency alerts, requesting generators to operate at maximum capacity to prevent rolling blackouts as temperatures plunge into the negatives.
Forecast: Where the Storm is Heading
While the South struggles with “catastrophic” icing, the Northeast is bracing for a historic snow event.
| Region | Expected Impact | Timeline |
| New York City | 8 to 12 inches of snow | Arriving Sunday morning through Monday |
| Boston | Up to 21 inches of snow | Peaking Sunday night |
| Washington, D.C. | Heavy snow transitioning to wintry mix | Throughout Sunday |
| The South (ATL/CLT) | Dangerous freezing rain & ice | Improving slightly by Monday |
A “Deep Freeze” to Follow
Meteorologists warn that the worst may be yet to come. Following the precipitation, an Arctic blast is expected to settle over the fresh snowpack.
“The snow and ice will be very, very slow to melt,” says Allison Santorelli of the National Weather Service. “That fresh snow will act like a freezer, causing nighttime temperatures to plummet to dangerous, subzero levels well into next week.”
Federal offices in Washington, D.C. have already announced they will remain closed on Monday as the region enters its first seven-day stretch of sub-freezing temperatures since 1989.
