Winter Storm Fern began sweeping across the United States on Friday, January 23, unleashing a massive shield of snow, sleet, and freezing rain that is already disrupting air and road travel from Dallas to Atlanta and New York City.

Forecasters warn that the sprawling system, stretching more than 2,000 miles, could bring catastrophic ice accumulations, life-threatening cold, and crippling transport shutdowns across key U.S. destinations through Monday.

More News

Storm Fern’s Massive Footprint Across the Eastern United States

Winter Storm Fern is the first truly coast-to-coast cold season system of 2026 to threaten both the Deep South and the major Northeast corridor, according to meteorologists at the National Weather Service and private forecasting firms. The storm is expected to evolve over several days, delivering successive rounds of snow and ice rather than a single burst, raising concerns about compounding impacts as roads and infrastructure remain below freezing.

Weather models on Friday showed Fern carving a path from northern Texas and Oklahoma through the lower Mississippi Valley, then arcing northeast across the Ohio Valley and into the Mid-Atlantic and New England. Heavy snow is forecast north of the storm’s track, with a broad swath of 6 to 12 inches expected across multiple states and localized totals surpassing 18 inches in parts of Appalachia and interior Northeast. To the south, a narrow but dangerous band of freezing rain is being closely monitored for ice accretion capable of downing trees and power lines.

Officials say roughly 200 to 230 million people live in areas likely to experience some form of direct impact from Fern, whether through heavy snow, icy roads, or bitter wind chills. States of emergency, winter storm watches, and ice storm warnings were already in place Friday from Texas to West Virginia and northward toward the New York metropolitan area, with governors and mayors urging residents to avoid nonessential travel.

The system’s timing, coinciding with a busy winter travel weekend and ongoing business and school schedules, heightens the risks of widespread disruption. With temperatures forecast to remain below freezing even after the heaviest precipitation ends, especially in interior regions, ice-covered roads could remain hazardous well into next week.

Dallas and North Texas: Early Ground Zero for Fern’s Snow and Ice

In Dallas and the broader North Texas region, Fern’s impacts are expected to begin in earnest late Friday and intensify through Saturday night. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch and an Extreme Cold Watch for North and Central Texas, warning of multiple inches of snow and sleet on top of a hard freeze that could keep the region locked below 32 degrees Fahrenheit until at least Monday afternoon.

Local forecasters in Dallas say residents should prepare for a rapid deterioration in road conditions once rain transitions to freezing rain, sleet, and eventually snow. Travel could become extremely difficult or impossible on untreated roads, especially bridges and elevated highways that typically refreeze first. Power outages are also a concern as ice accumulates on tree limbs and distribution lines across the Metroplex and neighboring communities.

Dallas Independent School District and other local districts opened on Friday but canceled after-school and weekend activities as confidence grew in a prolonged winter event. City and county transportation crews spent Friday pretreating major highways and overpasses, while emergency management officials urged people to complete grocery runs and errands early and prepare for the possibility of staying home for several days.

Beyond the city’s transportation grid, the deep freeze threatens water infrastructure and vulnerable residents. Officials are asking travelers and locals alike to protect pipes, check on elderly neighbors, and ensure that anyone without reliable heating has a safe place to stay as wind chills dip into the single digits or below zero in some North Texas locations.

Air Travel Chaos: Cancellations Surge from Dallas to Atlanta and New York

Fern is already reshaping the national aviation map, with flight-tracking data showing nearly 2,000 U.S. flights canceled ahead of the storm on Friday and thousands more delayed. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, a key hub for American Airlines, and Dallas Love Field, a major base for Southwest Airlines, are among the hardest hit, with carriers preemptively trimming schedules to avoid stranding aircraft and crews as runways turn icy.

American Airlines, Southwest, Delta, and United have issued systemwide and region-specific travel alerts, allowing passengers with tickets to and from affected airports to rebook trips without change fees across multiple days. These waivers currently cover large portions of Texas and the South and extend into Midwestern and Northeastern destinations in anticipation of Fern’s march toward the East Coast. Airlines say they are closely monitoring the storm track and will adjust operations airport by airport as conditions worsen.

Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the nation’s busiest passenger hub, is bracing for a particularly challenging weekend. While the exact extent of ice in the metro area remains uncertain, forecasters warn that even modest amounts of freezing rain could trigger runway closures, deicing backlogs, and ground stops that ripple across the national network. Delta Air Lines has scaled back schedules and advised travelers to consider postponing nonessential trips through the peak of the storm.

In the Northeast, New York’s three major airports are preparing for a renewed wave of disruptions just days after an earlier snow event snarled operations. Airlines serving John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty airports have already begun thinning weekend schedules, especially on regional and short-haul routes most sensitive to weather delays. Travelers are being advised to proactively check flight status and avoid tight connections, with some aviation analysts predicting that cumulative cancellations related to Fern could surpass 6,000 flights nationwide by Monday.

Atlanta Confronts the Threat of Destructive Ice and Gridlock

The Atlanta metropolitan area sits near the southern edge of Fern’s main winter precipitation shield, where a narrow corridor of cold air is expected to clash with moisture surging north from the Gulf of Mexico. This atmospheric tug-of-war leaves forecasters uncertain about exact snow and ice totals but unified in warning that even a slight southward shift in the freezing line could turn rain into a crippling ice storm for one of the country’s most important transportation hubs.

Current projections suggest portions of northern and western Atlanta suburbs could see significant glaze accumulation on trees and power lines, along with icy conditions on major interstates that radiate across Georgia and the broader Southeast. State officials are preparing fleets of salt trucks and plows, but they acknowledge that the region’s relatively warm climatology and heavy highway traffic can quickly turn marginal winter events into hours-long gridlock and accident scenes.

Atlanta’s tourism and convention sectors are on edge as visitors weigh whether to proceed with weekend plans. Hotels near the airport and downtown report a surge in calls from guests inquiring about cancellation policies and backup transportation options. Local travel advisors are encouraging those with flexibility to delay arrival until at least late Monday, when roads and runways are more likely to be clear.

Hartsfield-Jackson officials say they are coordinating closely with airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration to manage ground operations as safely and efficiently as possible, including ramp staffing for extended deicing operations. However, they caution that prolonged freezing rain or sleet would limit what can be done on the airfield and could force significant reductions in arrivals and departures during the storm’s peak.

New York City Braces for Heavy Snow, Ice and Prolonged Disruptions

Farther north, New York City and the surrounding tri-state region are under a Winter Storm Watch from late Saturday night through Monday afternoon as Fern’s cold conveyor belt of moisture swings into the Northeast. Spectrum News and other local outlets report that forecasters expect at least 6 inches of snow in the five boroughs, with the potential for more if bands pivot over the city. Periods of sleet and freezing rain are also possible, especially early in the event and near coastal areas.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and city emergency officials are urging residents and visitors to prepare for a slow-moving and disruptive storm that will likely span multiple commute periods. City workers are scheduled to begin brining highways, bridges, streets, and protected bike lanes on Friday, with around 2,000 Department of Sanitation employees moving into rotating 12-hour shifts as precipitation nears. Plow and spreader fleets have been pre-positioned in key corridors and near hospital and transit access points.

The looming storm comes on the heels of a smaller but impactful snow event earlier in the week that caused hundreds of cancellations and delays at the region’s airports. That experience underscored how even modest snowfalls can trigger cascading travel problems in such a densely trafficked airspace. With Fern, flight crews and airport authorities are trying to stay ahead of conditions by scaling back schedules and prioritizing safety over on-time performance.

For travelers, the combination of snow, ice, and gusty winds poses a triple threat to both air and ground mobility. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has warned of potential lane closures on bridges and tunnels during the height of the storm, especially if blowing snow reduces visibility. Intercity rail operators are also monitoring forecast trends for heavy, wet snow that could affect overhead power lines and track switches in the New York to Boston corridor.

Power Outages, Road Closures and Stranded Travelers Across the Storm Zone

A growing concern across all three major hubs affected by Fern is the likelihood of widespread power outages and road closures that could trap travelers far from their intended destinations. The storm’s ice belt is forecast to slice across parts of Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, and the southern Appalachians, bringing ice accretions that could exceed a quarter of an inch or more in some communities.

Utilities from Texas to the Carolinas have mobilized thousands of lineworkers and mutual aid crews from other states and Canada to respond to downed lines and damaged transformers. In the Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic, energy companies reported on Friday that they have staged personnel and equipment along expected impact corridors so they can begin repairs as soon as winds and road conditions allow. Given the scope and duration of the storm, restoration efforts for some rural areas could take days.

On the highway front, state transportation departments in Texas, Oklahoma, and several southeastern states have pretreated major routes with brine and are warning that plows and salt trucks will not be able to keep up if precipitation rates intensify. Oklahoma’s Highway Patrol has canceled days off for troopers and partnered with the National Guard to form specialized teams that can assist stranded motorists in remote stretches of interstate and state highways.

For travelers, this means that attempting long-distance drives through the storm zone could quickly turn dangerous. Authorities are advising against overnight road trips and urging drivers who must be on the move to carry full fuel tanks, winter clothing, blankets, and emergency supplies. Major interstates feeding into Dallas, Atlanta, and New York, including sections of I-20, I-30, I-75, I-85, I-95, and I-81, are all at risk for extended closures or rolling accidents as Fern passes.

Tourism Destinations Warn Visitors to Rebook and Stay Safe

\n\n

From Texas city breaks to Appalachian ski weekends and New York City cultural escapes, the storm’s unusually wide footprint is forcing tourists and destination marketers alike to pivot. Convention and visitors bureaus in Dallas, Atlanta, and New York are using social channels and email alerts to urge would-be visitors to monitor conditions closely, work with airlines and hotels on flexible rebooking, and avoid last-minute drives into storm zones.

In Dallas, where the hospitality sector has rebounded strongly from the pandemic, hotels are preparing for a mix of stranded air passengers and locals seeking refuge from potentially cold or powerless homes. Some properties near Dallas Fort Worth and Love Field are offering distressed traveler rates, while downtown hotels are coordinating with event organizers to convert large conferences into hybrid or virtual formats if attendees cannot safely reach the city.

Atlanta’s hotel and restaurant operators, many of whom have vivid memories of previous ice storms that gridlocked the region, are taking a cautious approach. Several venues hosting large weekend events have already shifted start times, scaled down programming, or offered attendees the option to transfer tickets to later dates. Ride-hailing services and rental car operators are also bracing for sudden demand surges and limited road access once conditions deteriorate.

In New York, where Fern’s impacts may overlap with peak tourism activities, including Broadway performances, museum visits, and winter festivals, city tourism officials are emphasizing flexibility. Many cultural institutions have adopted more lenient refund and exchange policies during significant weather events. Visitors who are already in the city are being advised to stay within walking distance of their accommodations where possible, use public transit rather than driving, and prepare for potentially reduced or modified service on subways, buses, and commuter rail networks.

What Travelers Should Expect Through Monday

As Winter Storm Fern unfolds between Friday, January 23, and Monday, January 26, forecasters expect conditions to evolve rapidly from region to region, with snow and ice arriving at different times but creating a broadly similar picture of disruption across much of the eastern United States. Dallas and North Texas are likely to see the earliest and longest-lasting combination of snow, sleet, and extreme cold, followed by a shifting axis of ice and snow across the Southeast and into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

For air travelers, the most challenging period is projected from Friday afternoon through late Sunday, when the overlap of storm impacts at multiple hub airports could severely constrain the national system. Even airports not directly under snow or ice may experience significant delays and missed connections as aircraft and crews are displaced by weather-related cancellations in Dallas, Atlanta, and New York.

Road travelers should anticipate hazardous conditions, periodic closures, and long delays on major interstate corridors from Texas to the Northeast. Authorities recommend avoiding nonessential travel, especially overnight, and planning extra time and backup routes if trips cannot be postponed. In many areas, the most treacherous conditions will occur not only during active precipitation but also in the hours and days afterward, as refreezing transforms slush into hard ice.

For residents and visitors alike, officials stress that the safest strategy is to stay informed, heed local advisories, and respect the storm’s wide-ranging impacts. As Winter Storm Fern bears down on Dallas, Atlanta, New York, and hundreds of communities in between, the focus across the travel and tourism sector is shifting from keeping itineraries intact to keeping people safe.