Updated 20:56 23 Jan 2026 GMTPublished 20:51 23 Jan 2026 GMT

Experts confirm 12 cities that will see the worst damage from catastrophic Winter Storm Fern'

A massive winter storm is building over the Rockies as 12 cities are warned to brace for the worst of the snow, ice, and freezing conditions

William Morgan

More than half of Americans are being warned to prepare for 'catastrophic' conditions resulting from the vast winter storm that is about to sweep across the north and center of the country.

230 million people across 34 states have been cautioned by weather forecasters to brace for sub-zero temperatures, high winds, and widespread snow and ice, with the vast Winter Storm Fern spreading out from New Mexico to Virginia over Saturday (January 24).

As the likely historic storm slowly moves into the northeast on Sunday, the National Weather Service has warned that it will bring with it further freezing conditions and treacherous roads.

But based on current modeling, experts are predicting that 12 cities across the country will bear the brunt of Fern's devastation, which is set to continue disrupting travel plans by blanketing large portions of the country in snow and ice well into Monday.

New Yorkers can expect the worst of the weather over Sunday into Monday (CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images)

Over a foot of snow is expected to fall across states in its path, with the Weather Channel also forecasting a quarter inch of ice likely from Texas to Virginia, with 11 states warning that this rapid ice build up could cause widespread damage to trees and power lines.

Because of this, the weather experts are also cautioning that Winter Storm Fern's impact 'will linger for some time after the storm ends'.

Mississippians are being warned of extensive disruption from the storm, with Hinds County emergency operations director Joey Perkins telling locals to 'prepare now for the possibility of extended power outages' and Governor Tate Reeves declaring a state of emergency as residents hunker down.

Reports of snow flurries are already coming in from New Mexico and the Central Plains, where temperatures are rapidly dropping as the destructive weather system begins to build.

Yet the focus of some experts has been on 12 major metropolitan centers in the path of Storm Fern, where icy conditions and heavy snowfall are expected to unleash widespread gridlock and make life difficult for residents.

Half the country and two thirds of Americans are expected to be blasted by this weekend's storm (Yasin Demirci/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The worst of Storm Fern's impact is expected to be felt over Saturday night into Sunday, with the vast icy weather system settling over many of the 34 states likely to be affected. That will be the case for many over the weekend, while residents in the northeast are set to be blanketed with snow a day later.

Which US cities will see the worst damage from Winter Storm Fern?

Analysis compiled by the Washington Post shows that some cities in Fern's path will be worse affected than others, with expert forecasters predicting 'crippling amounts' of snow, sleet, and ice, in the following locations: