Winter Storm Fern is affecting roughly 220 million people across regions stretching from Mexico and Texas to northeastern Maine and into Canada. The system is churning across the South with snow, sleet and freezing rain, while snow is beginning to creep into the Northeast. This isn't just a normal winter weather event—the number of counties under a winter storm warning was the highest recorded.
At least 22 states have declared a state of emergency as the dangerous winter storm brings snow, ice and extreme cold through the U.S. A band of heavy snow and wintry mix is forecast to affect the I-95 corridor, which could lead to snowfall rates of up to an inch per hour. Meanwhile, the winter storm on Sunday is wreaking havoc on electrical grids across several states, including Texas and Tennessee. Thousands of flights have already been canceled and delayed, with 3,384 flights within, into or out of the United States canceled as of Sunday morning.
The snow and ice are only half the story. This will be a long-duration cold event, with record cold temperatures forecast to last through Tuesday and Wednesday in the South, while below-freezing temperatures could last up to 10 days for cities in the Northeast. Communities from the Southern Plains to the Northeast will contend with bitterly cold temperatures and dangerously cold wind chills. If you're in the affected areas, stay home, check on neighbors, and prepare for a rough few days ahead. For live updates on conditions near you, check the National Weather Service and The Weather Channel.