Where it’s expected to hit first (and how it could spread)
Early forecasts describe Fern ramping up across the southern and central parts of the country before pushing east and north.
The track being discussed starts from the Southwest into areas like Oklahoma and Texas, then moves across the South and the Tennessee Valley, before driving toward the Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast.
That matters because the storm isn’t just “one blast.” It’s a moving chain of conditions:
- Snow in one zone transitions into sleet in another
- Sleet turns into freezing rain as temperatures shift by just a few degrees
- Behind it all, colder air can sweep in and lock problems in place
In places like New York, forecasts have included the possibility of 6 inches or more in the city — with some projections suggesting totals could push higher depending on the final track.
Officials have warned of “considerable disruption,” especially as the storm lines up with heavy weekend travel and the start of a new week.
Emergency declarations are already rolling in
Multiple states have moved into “prepare now” mode, with leaders urging residents to plan for hazardous travel and potential outages.
That’s often the first domino: once emergency posture begins, the next steps tend to be school decisions, staffing shifts, utility staging, and travel advisories.
And here’s the part most people miss: once conditions start, the hardest thing isn’t the snow — it’s how quickly normal routines stop working.
Read more on the next page ⬇️⬇️⬇️
