Winter Storm Fern live updates: more than 10,000 flights canceled as snow and ice batter eastern US | US weather
Over 10,000 flights canceled from storm
So far, more than 10,000 flights have been canceled, with up to 15,000 cancellations possible through Monday. Today will go down in history as one of the days with the most weather-related flight cancellations in US aviation history.
The cancellations include all flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and most flights at the Philadelphia International Airport. Thousands of flights from major NYC airports LaGuardia, JFK and Newark have also been canceled.
Key events
Winter storm Fern is officially operating in full force in the northeastern US. New Yorkers may not be strangers to snow, but these conditions have already proven to be especially severe and dangerous.
Yesterday, outreach teams worked to connect with the city’s homeless and provide shelter ahead of the snowstorm. The city has activated a Code Blue, which means anyone who is homeless cannot be denied shelter.
Here are some photos of snowy and icy New York:
The worst conditions across New York state are expected between 12pm today and 12am Monday when significant snowfall rates will affect central and eastern parts of the state.
1-2 feet of snow is expected across most of the state, accompanied by impactful cold, and minor wind and coastal flooding, according to the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.
Governor Kathy Hochul also encouraged businesses to let employees work remotely during the storm.
“So tomorrow’s commute, for those who are working, we encourage their employers to allow their workers, if possible, to work remotely,” Hochul said.
NYC schools to close and offer remote instruction
New York City public schools will be closed on Monday due to the storm, mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on Sunday morning.
While all NYC public school buildings will be closed, instruction will continue remotely for students scheduled to attend school on Monday.
The decision to make tomorrow a remote learning day serves to prioritize the safety of students and staff while also continuing instruction and meeting New York State’s 180-day instructional requirement, according to mayor Mamdani and schools chancellor Kamar Samuels.
The mayor also said a travel advisory will be in effect until Monday.
“It will be colder than any sustained period that New York has experienced in about eight years,” Mamdani said during a press conference.
Popular food delivery apps Grubhub and DoorDash said they are considering pausing delivery services in areas dealing with the most severe weather. They also warned that wait times may be longer.
For areas where it is still operating, DoorDash has put a “Weather Impact Fee” in place for all deliveries in the areas impacted by the storm on Sunday. The full fee goes to drivers delivering in areas with bad weather, the company said.
“When in effect, the fee helps make it more worthwhile for Dashers to be on the road and helps keep delivery running when it’s safe to do so,” DoorDash said in a statement. “Customers see the fee in-app while they’re ordering, and can see additional information about the fee and what it’s for before they ever place an order.”
The Office of Personnel Management announced that federal offices in the Washington DC area would be closed on Monday. Employees will be expected to work from home.
A vote scheduled for Monday will also be postponed by the US Senate, Ryan Wrasse, the spokesperson for Senate majority leader John Thune, said on X.
20 states declare state of emergency
At least 20 states have declared a state of emergency including Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
Muriel Bowser, the mayor of Washington DC, has declared a state of emergency in the district.
Donald Trump had approved emergency declarations for at least a dozen states by Saturday, with more expected to come. The Federal Emergency Management Agency pre-positioned commodities, staff and search and rescue teams in numerous states, Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem said.
Over 10,000 flights canceled from storm
So far, more than 10,000 flights have been canceled, with up to 15,000 cancellations possible through Monday. Today will go down in history as one of the days with the most weather-related flight cancellations in US aviation history.
The cancellations include all flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and most flights at the Philadelphia International Airport. Thousands of flights from major NYC airports LaGuardia, JFK and Newark have also been canceled.
Power outages reach nearly 900,000
Power outages across the country have already surged to nearly 900,000 according to PowerOutage.us, a giant leap from Saturday when the number sat at about 85,000.
Tennessee is currently reporting by far the largest number of outages with more than 300,000 homes and businesses affected.
Outages in Mississippi and Texas have risen to more than 130,000. Louisiana is nearing 125,000 outages.
After spending most of Saturday in the midwestern and southern US, winter storm Fern made its way to the Northeast in the early hours of Sunday morning. The DC-area is expected to receive 5-9 inches of snow from the massive storm.
Here’s a look at the snow-covered US Capitol in Washington, DC.
Hazardous Hello, and welcome to our live blog coverage of the winter storm system currently moving across much of the US. My name is Marina Dunbar and I will be bringing you the latest news lines.
Winter storm Fern continues to hit large parts of the country, dumping snow, sleet and freezing rain. Frigid temperatures, power outages, and treacherous road conditions were widespread. The ice and snowfall are expected to continue through Monday in much of the country, followed by very low temperatures, causing “dangerous travel and infrastructure impacts” to linger for several days, the National Weather Service said.
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