Storm Scale and Population Exposure Winter Storm Fern swept across the nation, endangering roughly 50 % of the U.S. population with snow, sleet, ice and wind chills as low as ‑41 °F in North Dakota; by Friday afternoon, at least 182 million people faced winter‑storm or ice warnings and over 210 million were under cold‑weather advisories [1][2]. Forecasters warned ice accumulations could reach 1‑2 inches, a level described as “catastrophic” and comparable to hurricane damage in the South and Southeast [3]. The storm’s track shifted eastward, prompting expectations of up to a foot of snow from Washington, D.C., through Boston and a cold‑emergency declaration in Boston [1].

Power Outage Risks and Emergency Supplies FEMA positioned more than 7 million meals, 600 000 blankets and 300 generators while placing nearly 30 search‑and‑rescue teams on standby, anticipating widespread outages especially in ice‑prone regions [1]. The American Red Cross highlighted that power losses could persist up to a week, labeling them the storm’s most serious threat [2]. Utility firms readied crews, and Texas added thousands of workers, citing improved readiness compared with the 2021 blackout [1].

Travel and Transportation Disruptions Airlines canceled thousands of flights, reporting over 1 000 delays on Friday and about 2 300 scrapped for Saturday, with national cancellations projected to reach 4 000 [1][2]. Major metros—including Dallas, Atlanta and Charlotte—faced severe travel paralysis, while schools in Chicago, the Midwest and Philadelphia closed and events such as the Grand Ole Opry proceeded without live audiences [1]. Authorities warned that frozen roads and icy conditions could halt travel for days, urging residents to limit trips and monitor alerts [2].

Ice Accumulation and Infrastructure Threats Meteorologists warned that ice thickness of 1‑2 inches could cripple power lines, down trees and burst pipes, creating a multi‑day emergency especially as Arctic air locked in sub‑zero temperatures [3][1]. Jim Cantore emphasized the dangerous overlap of ice, snow and prolonged outages, noting that central Texas would remain below freezing for 2.5 days and North Texas for up to 4 days [3]. Early forecast uncertainty gave way to consensus on severe ice impacts across dozens of cities from the Southern Plains to the Mid‑Atlantic [3].

Political and Public Messaging Former President Donald Trump used Truth Social to claim he had been briefed on the storm and that the Trump administration was coordinating with state officials while FEMA stood ready [1]. Governors and local officials urged residents to stock up on groceries, warm clothing and emergency supplies, with Boston declaring a cold emergency and Connecticut preparing possible travel restrictions [1]. The combined messaging aimed to reinforce preparedness as the storm continued its eastward progression [1].