Winter Storm Fern: Supermarket shelves left bare as storm approaches | World | News
A brutal ice and snow storm is on its way to inflict misery on a whopping 230 million people in just a matter of hours. The US is currently bracing itself for a powerful winter storm this weekend which will bring snow, sleet, ice, and below-freezing temperatures from the Arizona-New Mexico border all the way to upstate New York.
The National Weather Service (NWS) predicts that “life-threatening cold air” will gradually move eastward from the High Plains and Rockies starting today, Friday January 23. The NWS warns that wind chills in the Northern Plains could drop below an icy -50C. “These wind chills create a life-threatening risk of hypothermia and frostbite for any exposed skin,” the NWS cautioned.
The Weather Channel has named the system Winter Storm Fern. Forecasters from The Weather Company say Fern could impact more than 230 million people across the US, roughly two-thirds of the country’s population.
And now a three-day snowfall graphic from the National Weather Service shows that the worst hit areas will be buried in over 12cm of snow (five inches). A whopping 34 states will be covered in either heavy snow or ice.
The weather map shows Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia are all at risk of seeing 12cm of snow.
Elsewhere, Louisiana, Kentucky, Arkansas, North Carolina and Virginia could see up to 5cm of snow (two inches). Texas is on track to see between 2.5cm-5cm of snow.
Storm Fern has the potential to be heaviest snowstorm since early February 1998 in Louisville, Kentucky and the first one-foot-plus snowstorm in 10 years in both Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
Currently, 12 states have already declared states of emergency ahead of the winter storm. These include Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Missouri.
Reports on social media suggests that shelves in several supermarkets have been left bare as people rush to stock up before Storm Fern smashes into the country.
Shoppers at the Kroger on Hubbards Lane in Louisville were greeted by nearly empty shelves this morning as they prepared for the snowstorm expected this weekend.
Similarly, NBCN reporter Gary Grumbach posted pictures on X of bare shelves at a Trader Joe in Washington DC.
US transportation authorities, including airport officials in multiple major cities, are urging travelers to prepare for major delays as the severe winter storm moves across the country this weekend.
Ahead of the sweeping storm numerous US airlines have rolled our travel waivers, including offering passengers the chance to change their flight due to increasing concerns about cancellations.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson urged residents to keep pets indoors and to check on vulnerable neighbors.
“At these temperatures, frostbite can develop on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes,” Mr Johnson said.
