Three US cities are set to get the most snow during the 2,300-mile ‘icemaggedon’ storm hitting this weekend.
Boston, New York City, and Oklahoma City residents are bracing with shovels and lots of warm blankets as the three cities are expected to get up to 18 inches of snow by Monday.
More than 200 million Americans are under a threat as Winter Storm Fern barrels through 35 states and Washington DC this weekend.
Snow has already begun to fall in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, and Minnesota, creating travel hazards, as 18 states declare a state of emergency.
Nearly 3,700 flights have already been canceled as of Saturday, with nearly double canceled on Sunday with 6,300. More than 10,000 flights are facing delays as the storm hits the US.
Storm Fern is set to be the coldest ever on record.
Millions of Americans have been advised to take precautions and avoid traveling this weekend as meteorologists predict heavy snow and frigid temperatures.
Follow along for the latest updates.
The three US cities bracing for the most snow
Boston, New York City, and Oklahoma City are expected to be hit with the most snow this weekend.
The cities could see up to 18 inches of snow as Winter Storm Fern hits 35 states.
Snow has already begun to fall in Oklahoma.
Drivers have already begun battling snow in Oklahoma City (pictured) on Friday night
15,000 flights affected ahead of snowy weekend
Nearly 3,700 flights have been canceled as of Saturday, with nearly double already canceled on Sunday with 6,300, according to Flight Aware.
And those hoping to get out today may face trouble as nearly 10,500 flights are facing delays as Winter Storm Fern hits the US.
Dallas-Fort Worth is facing the biggest number of cancellations on Saturday morning with 630 flights, followed by Charlotte with 201.
The North Carolina airport is already leading Sunday’s cancellations with 470 flights, followed by NYC’s LaGuardia at 356.
Airports most affected by ‘apocalyptic’ ice storm
Dallas-Fort Worth and Chicago’s O’Hare face the largest number of cancellations on Saturday.
The Texas hub saw more than 220 flights canceled and 32 delayed as of Saturday morning, according to FlightAware.
Chicago’s biggest airport has nearly 60 cancellations and 25 delays.
Other major areas facing airport chaos are Atlanta, New York City, and Washington DC.
Meteorologist reveals America’s most dangerous city in winter storm’s corridor
Meteorologist Ryan Hall, known as ‘The Internet’s Weather Man,’ revealed to the Daily Mail the area he is most concerned about during Winter Storm Fern.
Border towns plunge to -40F
Seagull, Minnesota, hit a glacial -43F on Saturday morning, according to the Weather Channel.
Iron County, in neighboring Wisconsin, was only two degrees warmer. Both areas sit near the Canadian border.
The arctic blast could bring even colder temperatures to the area as the weekend progresses.
South Carolina animal shelter finds temporary home for 100 pets ahead of storm
Greenville Humane Society found temporary homes for more than 100 animals, cleaning out their kennels for the weekend.
‘Ahead of this major ice storm, our community showed up in the most extraordinary way,’ it wrote on Facebook.
‘Every single animal in our care is safely tucked into a foster home. Because of your compassion and generosity, we don’t have to fear power outages that could leave animals cold, or staff risking dangerous, icy roads to reach our most vulnerable pets.’
Trump officials told FEMA not to say ‘ice’ to ‘avoid ridicule’
Homeland Security (DHS) officials reportedly told the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) not to use the word ‘ice’ while communicating with the public to avoid confusion with the federal immigration agency Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE).
DHS advised FEMA to use the word ‘freezing rain’ in its public messaging.
Insiders told CNN’s Gabe Cohen that there’s some dismay about changing the term, as the weather conditions are not the same.
‘What we’re talking about is ice and what we’re talking about is saving lives,’ officials told Cohen.
Some federal offices to close on Monday
Scott Kupor, the director of the Office of Personnel Management, announced his Washington DC offices would be closed on Monday due to the weather forecast.
‘We hope that everyone stays safe (and warm) over the weekend,’ he wrote on X.
Remote and telework employees are still expected to log on for their shifts, but in-person staff will be given weather leave.
Tens of thousands already without power
More than 67,000 Americans have already lost power as of Saturday morning.
Nearly half of the outages are located in Texas, which has more than 30,000 people without electricity, according to PowerOutage.us.
Around 4,500 people in Arkansas and 4,400 in Minnesota have also been affected.
Officials are worried about blackouts, especially in the South.
States including are expecting a deep freeze. The Lone Star State experienced deadly blackouts in February 2021 after a storm swept through.
18 states declare state of emergency ahead of storm
A total of 18 states have declared a state of emergency ahead of this weekend’s storm.
The states and districts include: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia, and Washington DC.
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani cancels possibility of a snow day on Monday
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said students should forget about a chance of a snow day on Monday.
Mamdani told the Big Apple’s almost one million students to prepare for remote learning at the start of the week.
‘I know to the disappointment of any student that’s watching this right now, Monday is either going to be a remote learning day or it’s going to be an in-person school day,’ he said on Friday.
‘It’s not going to be a traditional snow day. That is a determination we’ve made.’
Ted Cruz hits back at critics for mocking his ill-timed trip as he returns to Texas
Senator Ted Cruz returned to Texas on Friday after a viral photo showed him hopping on a plane ahead of Winter Storm Fern.
The Republican poked fun his critics, sharing a photo of him with his arm out and saying: ‘I am reliably informed by Twitter that if I simply raise up my hand on Texas soil, the storm will turn around & sunshine, rainbows & unicorns will emerge. Let it be.’
He said he had returned from a work trip and acknowledged the storm was expected to hit his state by Saturday evening.
His return came after he was savaged by constituents for appearing to leave the state ahead of the treacherous weather.
