Over 700,000 People Are Already Without Power as Heavy Snow and ICE Slams the US, 24 States Declare Emergencies

A major winter storm is unleashing chaos across much of the United States, with heavy snowfall, freezing rain, and dangerous ice accumulations affecting millions from the South to the Northeast.

By Sunday morning, over 700,000 homes and businesses were already without electricity in Tennessee, Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Kentucky, Georgia, Virginia, and New Mexico, according to PowerOutage.us.

Over 10,000 flights have also already been canceled nationwide.

“It is rare that storms combine this much snow, ice, and bitter cold over such a large area — a widespread travel-halting winter storm will stall daily life for days in large portions of the central and eastern U.S.,” Evan Myers of AccuWeather warned.

At least 24 states have declared states of emergency to mobilize resources and prepare for what forecasters are calling potentially “catastrophic” impacts.

@StephanieAbrams @JimCantore @JordanSteele current situation (1:30am 1/25/2026) in Lebanon TN off Castle Heights south of Main St pic.twitter.com/DmgkBIEZfV

— William C. Mullis (@wcmullis31024ga) January 25, 2026

Winter Storm Fern is expected to impact over 190 million people, stretching from New Mexico to Maine, and cause havoc to power grids and travel.

AccuWeather reports, “Accumulating snow will fall along a swath of the central and eastern United States that extends for at least 2,000 miles and includes the major cities of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Denver, Oklahoma City, St. Louis, Nashville, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City and Boston.”

“The storm may last 36-48 hours in some areas before dry Arctic air finally overwhelms and turns off the snow later this weekend or early next week.”

The storm is forecast to continue through the weekend, with two-thirds of the U.S. population expected to face extreme weather.

Fern is expected to bring accumulations of up to a foot of snow in higher elevations and dangerous ice buildup in lower areas.

The National Weather Service has advised people to prepare for prolonged power outages by stocking up on essentials.

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