Summary
Winter storm Fern began its journey across the country on Saturday morning, bringing record low temperatures and more snowfall than many cities have seen in over a century. More than 220 million people in the US are likely to be affected before the storm clears away after the weekend.
States of emergency have been announced in at least 18 states including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. Emergency declarations were also made in Missouri, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Three people were found dead on New York City streets amid the freezing temperatures. A 67-year-old man was found on a sidewalk in Manhattan this morning, according to police. An additional two bodies – a man in his 30s and a woman in her 60s – were found separately in Brooklyn about two hours after the first discovery. All three died as a result of “weather-related circumstances”, according to sources who spoke with NBC News New York.
Over 10,000 flights across the US set to take off over the weekend were canceled amid the harsh conditions. Airlines had urged passengers traveling this weekend to reschedule their flights as the storm threatened to disrupt operations and force widespread cancellations.
The number of power outages had climbed to nearly 135,000 across the country. Most of the outages, as of Saturday afternoon, are in southern states, including Texas, Louisiana and New Mexico. Texas has by far the largest number, currently sitting at just over 50,000.
Public transit systems are continuing to be suspended due to the storm. New Jersey Transit bus, light rail and Access Link services will be temporarily shut down beginning in the early hours of Sunday morning. The Capital Metro of Austin, Texas, ended all service in the city beginning at 4pm CST on Saturday.
Hundreds of National Guard troops from 12 states have been activated for the monster storm currently sweeping the country, according to the National Guard Bureau chief general Steven Nordhaus.
Hundreds of national guard troops from 12 states have been activated for the monster storm currently sweeping the country, according to national guard bureau chief Gen Steven Nordhaus.
“Soldiers and Airmen from 12 states are activated with eight more states on alert for Winter Storm Fern – working tirelessly alongside interagency partners to clear roads, help stranded motorists and support communities in need,” Nordhaus wrote in a post on X.
“To everyone in the storm’s path: take all precautionary measures to stay safe,” he added.
Updated
