Winter Storm Fern Grounds Flights and Cuts Power Across Two-Thirds of U.S.
Winter Storm Fern caused over 11,000 flight cancellations and left nearly 1 million customers without power as of Jan. 25.
Overview
FlightAware reported 11,016 U.S. flight cancellations as of 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 25, after Winter Storm Fern swept into the Northeast, and the Federal Aviation Administration warned more cancellations were likely into Monday, Jan. 26.
The National Weather Service said on Saturday, Jan. 24 that Winter Storm Fern threatened nearly 180 million people and could dump 1 to 2 feet of snow from Washington through New York and Boston through Monday, Jan. 26.
State and local officials activated emergency measures, including Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey issuing a state of emergency and activating more than 350 National Guard service members and Georgia mobilizing 500 National Guardsmen, officials confirmed.
Poweroutage.us showed nearly 1 million customers without power across the South by Sunday evening, and Tennessee officials reported more than 316,000 outages, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said.
Dartmouth aviation logistics professor Vikrant Vaze said recovery from the flight cancellations could take days or longer because of cascading network delays, and utility officials warned power restoration in iced areas may take several days.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the storm as severe and disruptive by foregrounding dramatic language ("pummeling," "massive," "snarling") and vivid visuals, emphasizing high-impact metrics (10,000+ cancellations, nearly 1,000,000 outages) and human anecdotes. Editorial choices—image selection, lead facts, and emphasis on travel chaos and preparedness—shape the narrative; quoted agency data and traveler quotes remain source content.
Sources (24)
FAQ
Over 11,000 U.S. flights were canceled as of 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, January 25, with reports of 11,016 from FlightAware and 11,076 from live updates.
The storm threatens 1 to 2 feet of snow from Washington through New York and Boston through Monday, January 26, with highest reported snowfall so far at 13.8 inches in Canaan Heights, WV.
Nearly 1 million customers are without power across the South, with Tennessee reporting over 287,000 outages, Texas 124,000, and Virginia 12,000.
States of emergency declared in 21 states; Alabama activated over 350 National Guard members, Georgia mobilized 500 National Guardsmen.
Recovery from flight cancellations could take days or longer due to cascading delays, and power restoration in iced areas may take several days.
History
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